Srinagar, Aug 13: Jammu and Kashmir recorded 35 per cent excess rainfall in July, breaking an eight-month spell of below-normal precipitation that began in November last year, according to data shared by independent weather platform Kashmir Weather.
According to details obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Union Territory received 259.7 mm of rainfall against the normal of 192.6 mm during July, resulting in a surplus of 35 per cent, the data showed.
The turnaround was particularly marked in the Kashmir Valley, where all districts except Shopian recorded above-normal rainfall during the month.
Baramulla registered the highest surplus in the Valley at 165 per cent, followed by Ganderbal at 110 per cent and Pulwama at 108 per cent. Srinagar and Anantnag recorded a 71 per cent surplus each, while Kulgam was 51 per cent above normal.
Bandipora and Kupwara recorded surpluses of 33 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively, while Budgam remained marginally above normal with a six per cent surplus.
Shopian was the only Kashmir district to record a deficit, with rainfall 40 per cent below normal in July.
The Jammu region also witnessed largely above-normal rainfall, with Ramban recording the highest surplus at 125 per cent. Udhampur followed with 108 per cent, while Samba and Rajouri recorded surpluses of 91 per cent and 88 per cent, respectively.
Poonch received 47 per cent excess rainfall, while Doda and Reasi recorded surpluses of 17 per cent and 14 per cent. Jammu district remained close to normal with a three per cent surplus.
Kathua and Kishtwar, however, continued to remain deficient, recording rainfall deficits of 25 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively.
The July rainfall marked a significant shift in the precipitation pattern across J&K after several months of deficient rainfall, with widespread showers helping push the overall monthly figure into surplus despite deficits in some districts.
In the neighbouring Union Territory of Ladakh, Kargil recorded 10 mm of rainfall against a normal of 1.9 mm, translating into a 426 per cent surplus. Leh received 31 mm against its normal of 11.2 mm, recording a 177 per cent surplus.
The large percentage departures in Ladakh were partly due to the region’s very low normal rainfall during July, the data indicated.
The rainfall figures come amid a spell of active weather that has brought heavy showers to several parts of Jammu and Kashmir in recent weeks, triggering episodes of flash floods, landslides and other rain-related incidents in vulnerable areas—(KNO)
