Srinagar, Mar 5 : Several parts of Jammu and Kashmir recorded a sharp rise in maximum temperatures on Thursday, with hill resort Gulmarg logging an unprecedented 17.2 degrees Celsius in the first week of March, officials said.
Independent weather observer said the temperature in Gulmarg was 13.7 degrees Celsius above normal and close to its all-time highest maximum of 18 degrees Celsius. The current reading is comparable to the climatological averages the ski resort usually witnesses in late May, he said.
In the Kashmir Valley, Srinagar recorded a maximum of 24.7 degrees Celsius, 11.7 notches above normal, while Qazigund registered 24.6 degrees Celsius, around 12 degrees above normal.
Pahalgam recorded 20.8 degrees Celsius, Kupwara 23.7 degrees Celsius and Kokernag 23.1 degrees Celsius, all significantly above seasonal averages. Sopore and Beerwah in Budgam district also recorded temperatures above 22 degrees Celsius.
In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded a high of 32.4 degrees Celsius, 8.1 degrees above normal. Banihal, Batote, Bhaderwah and Katra also witnessed maximum temperatures ranging between 26 and 31 degrees Celsius, officials said.
In Ladakh, Leh recorded 15.8 degrees Celsius, while Nubra Valley touched 17.1 degrees Celsius. Data for Kargil was not available.
Weather officials said the prevailing dry conditions have contributed to the spike in day temperatures across the Union Territory.(KNS).
