In an alarming sign of changing climate patterns, Srinagar recorded a searing 34.4°C on May 22 this year the hottest May day in nearly six decades. The heat continued into June, hitting a scorching 35.5°C by June 20, marking the hottest June day in 20 years. Nighttime brought little relief, with minimum temperatures hovering around 23.2°C among the highest night temperatures recorded in over a century.
The heatwave peaked again on July 12, when temperatures touched 37.4°C, the third-highest July day temperature since 1946, according to Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar.
As temperatures shift in lifestyle is already visible. Air coolers once a rare sight in the Valley are now becoming a household necessity, especially in urban areas. Priced under ₹10,000, these water-based coolers have found buyers in both cities and villages.
Though a recent spell of rain offered temporary relief, experts warn that Kashmir warming trend is accelerating. A mix of global climate change and local human activities including deforestation, loss of water bodies, and unchecked urban sprawl are contributing to the region’s rising heat levels. Over the past few years, average temperatures in Kashmir have reportedly risen by nearly 6°C.
This summer prolonged dry spell, coupled with a 50% rainfall deficit, has further aggravated conditions. Declining snowfall in the surrounding mountains once a source of natural rain via autoconvection has reduced natural cooling mechanisms.
The impacts are already rippling through agriculture. Temperature-sensitive crops like saffron, maize, and apples are under stress. The state agriculture department has issued advisories urging farmers to optimise irrigation as river and stream water levels drop sharply. Authorities have recommended switching to less water-intensive crops, including millets.
Urbanisation is compounding the crisis. Although the Urban Heat Island effect is more closely associated with large metros like Delhi and Mumbai, cities like Srinagar are beginning to experience similar localised heating. Loss of green cover and a rising population density are key factors.
As Kashmir grapples with its hottest year in recent memory, the signs are clear: the Valley, once known for its temperate climate and snow-fed rivers, is heating up fast and furiously. Without immediate adaptation strategies and sustainable development planning, Kashmir’s unique ecology and traditional way of life face an uncertain future.