Jammu Tawi, July 5: The Meteorological (MeT) department on Tuesday predicted widespread light to moderate rain in Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.

“Widespread light to moderate rain is likely to occur in J&K during the next 24 hours which will break the current heat wave,” an official of the Met department said.

The weather remained hot and dry in the union territory during the last 24 hours

Jammu had 26.6, Katra 24.4, Batote 21, Banihal 21.8 and Bhaderwah 20.5 as the minimum temperature.

Srinagar had 20.8, Pahalgam 15.6 and Gulmarg 13 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.
In the Ladakh Region, Drass town had 13.3 and Leh 15.5 as the minimum temperature.

 Kashmir Valley received heavy overnight rainfall on Tuesday plunging mercury and bringing much sought relief to the people reeling under the intense hot weather conditions.

According to meteorological department officials, the rainfall started around 3:00 am on Tuesday and continued for several hours bringing down the mercury by a few notches.

Srinagar city received 8.2 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours up to 8:30 morning on Tuesday, the officials said. They said Qazigund received 4.8mm, Pahalgam 11 mm, Kupwara 0.3 mm, Kokernag 1.2 mm, Gulmarg 7.6 mm, Jammu 1.1 mm,  Banihal 1.0mm, Batote 0.4 mm and Bhaderwah 0.6 mm rainfall.

Srinagar, the officials said, recorded a minimum temperature of 20.8°C against 24.0°C on the previous night. However, they said, the temperature was around 3.1°C above normal during this time of the year for the summer capital.

Qazigund recorded a low of 20.7°C against 21.6°C on the previous night. The temperature was 4.6°C above normal.

In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at 15.6°C against 18.6°C, 3.8°C above normal, while Kokernag recorded a low of 19.5°C which was against 19.9°C last night and it was 3.8°C above normal for the place, he said.

Gulmarg resort recorded a low of 13.0°C against 14.8°C and it was 1.2°C above normal, while Kupwara town saw a low of 22.5°C, 6.4°C higher than usual for this time of the season, the official said.

Jammu recorded a low of 26.8, 1.1°C above normal for J&K's winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 21.8°C, Batote 21.0°C, Katra 24.4°C while Bhadarwah had a minimum of 20.5°C, the official said.

Meanwhile, the officials saw more “intermittent” light to moderate rain at many places of Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24hours.