Srinagar Records All-Time Highest Minimum Temperature in July Amid Prolonged Heatwave

SRINAGAR: Srinagar recorded the highest-ever minimum temperature for the month of July at 25.2°C, matching a 37-year-old record set on July 21, 1988. According to the private forecaster Kashmir Weather, the city’s night temperature has equalled the all-time record and surpassed most previous July nights in terms of warmth.

The second-highest July minimum in Srinagar was 24.8°C, logged on July 29, 2024, suggesting a consistent warming trend over recent years. The years 2022, 2024, and now 2025 are being marked among the warmest Julys ever recorded in the region.

The heatwave has also affected other parts of the Kashmir Valley, breaking or nearing night temperature records at multiple stations.

In Kokernag, the night temperature stood at 22.6°C, equalling the previous record set on July 2, 2005. Meanwhile, Pahalgam, often considered a cool summer retreat, recorded a minimum of 20.0°C, its second highest ever, just short of the all-time peak of 20.2°C recorded on July 30, 2013.

Qazigund also experienced its second-warmest July night, registering 23.1°C, narrowly below the 23.4°C recorded on July 5, 2025.

The weather bulletin issued by Kashmir Weather predicts persisting hot and humid conditions across the Valley throughout the day, although some marginal cooling has already begun compared to Friday’s peak temperatures. A more marked dip in temperature is expected from Sunday onwards, with daytime highs likely to stabilise around 30 to 31°C for nearly a week.

Scattered monsoon showers were reported across several districts during the early hours of Saturday. While Shopian (60–70 per cent), Budgam (20–30 per cent), Kulgam (30 per cent), and Anantnag (20 per cent) recorded some rainfall, most other areas, including Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla, Pulwama, and Ganderbal, remained mostly dry. Srinagar itself saw rainfall in 40–50 per cent of its areas, largely concentrated in lower-lying localities, as the upper elevations remained dry.

While brief spells of rain may bring temporary respite, the consistently high night temperatures signal a deeper climatic shift. Experts warn that such record-breaking minimum temperatures, especially when observed repeatedly in recent years, reflect the region’s increasing vulnerability to climate change, particularly with regard to its impact on agriculture, public health, and water resources.