The summer capital, Srinagar, on Sunday and Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded the hottest July day in eight years ahead of prediction of moderate to heavy rain in Jammu and Kashmir for three days from Monday.Meanwhile, the maximum temperature in other parts of Kashmir valley also remained several degrees above normal.A Met department spokesperson told the maximum temperature in Srinagar city surged and settled at 35 degree, which is over 5 degree above normal. “Srinagar city on Sunday recorded the hottest day of the season so far,” he said.He said the temperature recorded in the city also broke the record of the hottest day in the month of July in eight years. “The maximum temperature recorded in Srinagar on July 29, 2013 was 35.8 degree,” he said.He said an all time high of 39.5 degree maximum temperature in this month was recorded in Srinagar on July 15, 1973.Kupwara in north Kashmir was the hottest place in the valley with a maximum temperature of 35.3 degree, which is also the hottest July day in eight years. The border district had recorded maximum temperature of 35.8 degree on July 29, 2013.The maximum temperature at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg settled at 24 degree. The day temperature at the tourist resort of Pahalgam, health resort of Kokernag and Qazigund, gateway to the valley settled at 30.2 degree, 31.8 degree and 32 degree, respectively.The spokesperson said that lower and middle level tropospheric winds from north Arabian Sea are most likely to interact with Easterly Winds (from Bay of Bengal) from Sunday to July 21. “The system is most likely to cause moderate to heavy rain and thundershowers in many places in Kashmir between Monday and July 21,” he said.He said there is moderate to high risk of flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir during this time. “The system could result in temporary disruption of surface traffic mainly on Srinagar-Jammu, Srinagar-Leh national highways and Mughal road from Monday to July 21,” he said.He said landslides and shooting stones could occur during this time at vulnerable places due to moderate to heavy rainfall, adding low lying areas could experience water-logging and minor floods. “It is advised to suspend agriculture and horticulture operations during this time,” he added.
