Srinagar, Oct 4: Kashmir on Sunday reeled under an unprecedented October heatwave, with Srinagar recording its second-highest October temperature on record at 31.2 degrees Celsius, as unusually warm conditions gripped the Valley.
Srinagar recorded a maximum of 31.2°C, the second-highest October temperature ever recorded in the summer capital in October.
It breached the previous second-highest of 31.1°C, which was recorded on October 2, 2008.
The all-time October high for Srinagar remains 33.9°C recorded on October 2, 1931.
Today's temperature was 5.7°C above normal.
Qazigund recorded the hottest October day on record with mercury touching 31.4°C, which was 7.3°C above normal.
It broke the all-time record of 31.2°C recorded on October 1, 1985. Gulmarg also recorded extraordinary warmth for its altitude.
The ski resort of Gulmarg registered 23.2°C, surpassing the 23.0°C recorded on Saturday and emerging as the second-hottest October day ever.
The all-time October high at Gulmarg is 23.4°C recorded on October 1, 2009. The day temperature was 6.7°C above normal.
The health resort of Kokernag also created history, logging 29.4°C to become the hottest October day ever recorded at the station.
“It broke its previous all-time high of 29.2°C recorded on October 4, 2008. The temperature was 5.8°C above normal,” independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif said.
He said the persistence of unusually high temperatures across both valley and higher-altitude locations made the ongoing spell particularly noteworthy.
The unusually warm conditions come at a time when temperatures across Kashmir are normally expected to decline steadily as autumn progresses.