Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, June 17: With the onset of Monsoon 15 days earlier than its normal course, the day temperature plummeted five degrees below the normal in Jammu region. However the night temperature in Jammu remained one degree above the normal.
The temperature recorded by Metrological Department at various places reveals that the maximum temperature at Jammu was 33.5 degrees while the minimum was 23.6 degrees.
In Kathua, the minimum temperature was recorded at 32.6 degrees while the maximum was 23.7 degrees. In Samba the maximum temperature was 32.2 degrees while the minimum was 23 degrees. In Udhaumpur the maximum temperature touched 32.2 degrees while the minimum was 20.6 degrees and in Ramban the maximum temperature was 23.6 degrees and minimum was 16.3 degrees.
According to Dr M K Khushoo, Chief Scientist, SKUAST Jammu the onset of Monsoon and snowfall on upper reaches has led the decrease in temperature.
He said the rainfall as observed at Chatta Observatory near here was about 3 mm in Jammu region today. While the seasonal rainfall in the state was 78 per cent more from June 1 to June 17, he added.
He said the overall rainfall in the country was 68 per cent more. Terming it a good news especially for agriculturists he urged them to go for sowing of Kharif crops as there will be the good production this season.
He said there would be light to moderate rain fall in various parts of Jammu region tomorrow.
Meanwhile, reports coming from Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and other districts said that there was heavy rainfall for about one and half hour this evening. However no loss of life and property was reported from any where. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was open for vehicular traffic.
Agencies add from Srinagar:
Icy cold winds continued in the Kashmir Valley, where the maximum and minimum temperatures remained below normal due to fresh snowfall on upper reaches and intermittent rain in plains during the past 24 hours.
A Met Department spokesman said there could be light rain or thundershowers at few places over Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.
However, he said, the weather will be mainly dry during the subsequent four days.
Cloudy weather continued with intermittent rains, resulting in drop in temperature today in the Valley, where the maximum temperature was below normal.
In the summer capital, Srinagar, weather remained cold because of cloudy weather since this morning though sun appeared for a brief period.
The spokesman said the maximum temperature in Srinagar was 20.3 degrees yesterday, 9 notches below normal.
He said the minimum temperature was 12.2 degrees, three degrees below normal.
The sky will remain partly cloudy tomorrow when both maximum and minimum temperatures will remain below normal.
Famous health resort of Pahalgam, base camp of holy Amarnath cave shrine, where the annual yatra will commence from June 28, the minimum temperature was three degrees below normal while at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg it was 5.2 degrees, again three notches below normal.
Similarly, at Qazigund and Kokernag in south Kashmir and Kupwara in north Kashmir, the minimum temperature remained one to four degrees below normal.
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