Srinagar — the summer capital of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir — recorded its highest-ever maximum temperature for the month of February on Saturday, touching 21.0°C and breaking a decade-old record.
According to details shared by Kashmir Weather, the previous all-time February record of 20.6°C was registered on February 24, 2016. What makes this development more striking is the sharp deviation from normal, with Saturday’s temperature standing a massive 10.0°C above the seasonal average — an extraordinary anomaly for late winter in the Kashmir Valley.
Kashmir Weather stated that the spike is part of a broader and intensifying warm spell across the region. With dry conditions expected to persist and no major Western Disturbance forecast in the coming days, maximum temperatures are likely to rise further. Weather observers have indicated that additional long-standing February records could fall across other parts of Kashmir before the month ends, placing February 2026 among the warmest — if not the warmest — on record.
“What makes this even more remarkable is the anomaly: today’s temperature was a massive +10.0°C above normal, an extraordinary deviation for late winter in the Valley,” weather experts said.
“This is not an isolated spike but part of a broader, intensifying warm spell. With dry conditions likely to persist and no significant Western Disturbance in sight, maximum temperatures are expected to climb even further in the coming days,” they added.
“Additional long-standing records may fall before the month concludes in other parts of Kashmir as well. February 2026 is now firmly on track to rank among the warmest — if not the warmest — on record,” the experts further said.
In the Kashmir region, Srinagar recorded 21.0°C (10.0°C above normal), Qazigund 20.0°C (9.9°C above normal), Pahalgam 17.2°C (9.7°C above normal), Kupwara 20.0°C (9.9°C above normal), Kokernag 18.3°C (9.5°C above normal), and Gulmarg 11.5°C (9.5°C above normal).
In the Jammu region, Jammu recorded 25.2°C (2.9°C above normal), Banihal 19.8°C (6.7°C above normal), Batote 19.9°C (7.3°C above normal), Bhaderwah 21.3°C (7.1°C above normal), and Katra 25.0°C (4.9°C above normal).
In Ladakh, Leh recorded 8.3°C, Kargil 9.9°C, and Nubra Valley 10.4°C.
Meteorologists have termed the deviation highly unusual for February and are closely monitoring evolving weather conditions across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Weather experts attribute the spike to an intensifying warm spell and warn that more long-standing records could fall across the region, with February 2026 now on track to rank among the warmest on record.
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