Srinagar, The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar has reported that several regions in Jammu and Kashmir, including the city of Srinagar, experienced the warmest January in 43 years, alongside recording the second driest January in terms of precipitation over the same period. This unusual weather pattern has raised concerns among environmentalists and citizens alike regarding the changing climate in the region.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Srinagar city received only 3.0 mm of precipitation during January this year, making it the second driest January witnessed in the last four decades. The record for the lowest precipitation in January was set in 2018, with a mere 1.2 mm of rainfall or snow. The data indicates a significant departure from the norm in the region’s winter weather patterns, which traditionally include heavy snowfall.

The Meteorological Centre also provided data on the mean maximum temperatures (Tmax) recorded in January, which were notably higher than average. In Srinagar, the mean Tmax reached 11.9 degrees Celsius, while in Gulmarg, a popular skiing destination in north Kashmir, it was 5.7 degrees Celsius. Banihal, located in the Ramban district, experienced a mean Tmax of 16.9 degrees Celsius, indicating a broad trend of higher than usual temperatures across the region.

Furthermore, Jammu city recorded its lowest mean maximum temperature for January in over four decades, highlighting the variability and extremity of the weather patterns experienced across Jammu and Kashmir. The mean maximum temperature in Jammu was reported to be 13.4 degrees Celsius, the lowest since 1983, underscoring the unusual climatic conditions prevailing in the region.

The Meteorological Centre’s findings, shared via a post on X, underscore the significant shift in weather patterns in Jammu and Kashmir, with January 2024 being marked as one of the driest and warmest starts to the year in the last 43 years for most weather stations in the region, except for the plains of Jammu (Jammu, Samba, and Kathua).

This deviation from traditional winter weather patterns in Jammu and Kashmir poses challenges for agriculture, water resources, and winter sports tourism, particularly in areas like Gulmarg that rely heavily on snowfall. The data highlights the need for ongoing monitoring and research into the impacts of climate change in the Himalayan region.