SRINAGAR, Sept 25 : An almost two-month-long and unprecedented dry spell in Kashmir finally came to an end with overnight rain, while the ski resort of Gulmarg welcomed its first snowfall of the season.
Throughout September, the region had received a mere 20 mm of precipitation, well below the average of 75 mm for this month, resulting in a deficient September rainfall. This dry spell was particularly concerning for apple growers, as the lack of essential moisture had begun to impact the quality of the crop in various parts of the Valley.
This year, Kashmir experienced unusually high summer temperatures, leading to a heatwave that residents were unaccustomed to. On September 12, the summer capital, Srinagar, recorded a temperature of 34.2 degrees Celsius, just shy of the all-time highest recorded temperature of 35 degrees Celsius in 1934.
As a sign of changing weather, Gulmarg recorded a minimum temperature of 4 degrees Celsius following the fresh snowfall in the meadow. Meanwhile, Pahalgam hill station recorded 7.8 degrees Celsius, and Srinagar reported 10.8 degrees Celsius as the lowest temperatures of the night. The return of rain and snow brings relief to the region and its residents, as it marks the end of an unusually prolonged dry spell.
