MeT predicts rains, gusty winds, thunderstorms till June 22
Mudassir Ahmad
Jammu Tawi/ Srinagar, June 16:
After battling an intense and prolonged heat-wave for over a week, residents of Jammu region’s plains and its hilly areas finally breathed a sigh of relief as the maximum temperatures across the region dropped below the seasonal average. The change in weather has brought much-needed respite to the people who had been suffering due to not only the relentless heat but also widespread power outages.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the mercury has now dipped to levels slightly below normal in most areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The Meteorological Centre in Jammu has predicted a continuation of this relief in the form of brief spells of rain accompanied by gusty winds and thunderstorms over the next several days.
“A sigh of relief as temp settles below normal after intense heat-wave,” the MeT said in its latest bulletin. The department has issued a yellow alert valid till June 22, warning of possible isolated thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds till June 20, and isolated heavy rain along with thunderstorms and strong winds on June 21 and 22.
The recent weather shift comes after daytime temperatures had soared well above 43°C in Jammu city and surrounding districts, causing widespread discomfort, especially among vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and outdoor laborers. Several areas in Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, and Reasi districts had reported temperature anomalies crossing 6°C above normal during the peak of the heat-wave.
Compounding the ordeal for citizens were repeated and prolonged electricity supply disruptions, which led to protests in some localities. With air conditioning systems and even ceiling fans rendered useless for hours, people were left struggling to find ways to cope. Residents of many rural belts also complained of water scarcity as electric-powered pumping stations remained inactive for long stretches.
“We were barely managing. The power would go off for hours, sometimes more than six to seven times a day. In this heat, it was unbearable,” said Mohan Lal, a resident of Nagrota. Similar sentiments were echoed by residents in other towns, who demanded better power regulation and advance intimation about load shedding schedules.
With the fresh forecast indicating more cloud cover and rain in the coming days, expectations are high that power demand may ease slightly, allowing for better grid stability. Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious during thunderstorms and avoid venturing out during periods of high wind or lightning.
For now, the dip in temperatures and overcast skies have brought a welcome change — a rare moment of relief in what had become a testing early summer for the people of Jammu.
Director MeT, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad told that there is a possibility of a brief spell of rain, thundershower with gusty winds at isolated to scattered places till June 20.
However, he added that generally cloudy weather with intermittent spells of rain and thundershower is expected at many places between June 21 and June 23.
Amidst the forecast, the farmers have been advised to continue the farm operations.
Meanwhile, the people across J&K heaved a sigh of relief from the intense heat-wave as the mercury settled below normal at all the stations after more than a week.
In Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the mercury settled at 25.2 degrees Celsius, while in Jammu, the winter capital of the region, a maximum temperature of 32.3 degrees Celsius was recorded on Monday.
Qazigund, a gateway of Kashmir, recorded 22.8 degrees Celsius while Pahalgam, a famous tourist destination, recorded 20.2 degrees Celsius. In Kupwara, the mercury settled at 25.0 degrees Celsius and Kokernag and Gulmarg, a famous ski resort, recorded 21.4 degrees Celsius and 17.0 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Banihal in Jammu division recorded 21.4 degrees Celsius while Katra recorded 29.9 degrees Celsius. Batote and Bhaderwah recorded 23.1 degrees Celsius and 23.6 degrees Celsius, respectively.
