Record-breaking heat in Kashmir

On May 22, 2025, Srinagar recorded 34.4 degrees Celsius (°C_ — the hottest May day in nearly 60 years. And the heat didn’t let up. By June 20, temperatures climbed even higher to 35.5°C, marking the hottest June day in two decades. That night, the minimum temperature remained at 23.2°C — one of the highest in over a century.

Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar, told news channel ETV Bharat that July 12 recorded the third-highest July day temperature since 1946. “That year, temperatures hit 38.3°C, followed by 37.8°C in 1953. Today, Srinagar reached 37.4°C,” he said.

Air coolers, once rarely seen here, are suddenly in demand. From city homes to rural villages, people are turning to water-based coolers that are affordable, widely available and typically priced under Rs 10,000.

Rainfall earlier this week brought brief respite, but the larger trend is clear — Kashmir is heating up and fast. Climate experts point to a combination of global and local factors driving the change. Climate change, deforestation, vanishing water bodies and unplanned urban expansion have all contributed to the rising temperatures.

Kashmir has seen temperatures rise by nearly 6°C in recent years. A prolonged dry spell and a 50 per cent rainfall deficit this season have worsened the situation. Snowfall in the mountains — once a source of natural rainfall through autoconvection — has also declined.

The heat is already affecting agriculture. Crops such as maize, saffron and apples — all sensitive to temperature fluctuations — are showing signs of stress. The deficit has prompted authorities to issue an advisory urging farmers to rationalise irrigation due to the falling water table in rivers and streams.

Kashmir’s Director of Agriculture, Sartaj Shah, said they are working on a plan in coordination with the irrigation department and the Agriculture University to find solutions for farmers. He advised sowing alternative crops such as millets in response to the water shortage.

Urbanisation is also playing a role. While the Urban Heat Island effect is more commonly observed in metros like Delhi and Mumbai, experts warn that cities like Srinagar may increasingly experience localised heating due to a shrinking green cover and rising population density.