Srinagar scorches at 37.4°C as Kashmir sees hottest July day since 1953: All major J&K towns reeling under heatwave

Srinagar experienced its hottest July day in more than seven decades on Saturday as an intense heatwave continued to grip the Kashmir Valley, according to weather officials.

The maximum temperature in Srinagar climbed to 37.4 degrees Celsius, which is 7.8 degrees higher than the average for this time of year. This is now the third-highest temperature ever recorded in the city and the highest since 1953. The all-time record remains 38.3°C, set on July 10, 1946.

Other parts of Kashmir also saw unusually high temperatures:

• Pahalgam, a popular tourist spot and Amarnath Yatra base camp, recorded 31.6°C, breaking last year’s July record of 31.5°C.
• Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, reached 34.6°C, its second hottest July day.
• Kokernag also saw its second hottest July day at 34.0°C.
• Kupwara, in north Kashmir, reported 35.9°C, the hottest July temperature there since 2006.

According to the Meteorological Department, every weather station in the Valley is witnessing a heatwave, with temperatures well above normal across the region.

Inputs from PTI