Sweltering heat returns to Jammu; hottest day in Srinagar

Sweltering heat Monday returned to haunt the residents of the city as the mercury continued its upward trend for the second day in Jammu and Kashmir where Srinagar and Leh recorded the season's hottest day.

The maximum temperature in winter capital Jammu rose by 1.1 notches to settle at 38.1 degrees Celsius -- 2.2 degrees above normal during this part of the season, a spokesman of the MeT office said.

He said the minimum temperature in the city, which was lashed by monsoon showers on July 6 bringing relief to the people from the blistering heat, also marked an increase of 2.7 degrees Celsius and settled at 29.4 degrees Celsius, which was 3.7 degrees above season's average.

The summer capital, Srinagar, which otherwise had experienced pleasant weather due to frequent pre-monsoon rains, also recorded an increase in the day temperature which was 33.2 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest day of the season so far.

The day temperature in the city was three degrees above normal, the spokesman said, adding the night temperature in Srinagar also remained one degree above normal at 18.7 degrees Celsius.

Leh township of the Ladakh region also recorded the season's hottest day at 30.3 degrees Celsius, while the nearby Kargil town recorded a high of 28.9 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.

However, he said, the night temperature in Leh and Kargil remained at 15.9 degrees Celsius and 9.6 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi Shrine in Reasi district, recorded the maximum temperature at 35.5 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.

The weatherman has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers at many places in the Jammu division, isolated places in Kashmir and dry weather in the Ladakh region during the next 24 hours.