Srinagar Sees 2nd Hottest June Since 1892 Qazigund Hits 50-Year High

Natika Bhat

Srinagar Qazigund July 01: The Kashmir Valley has just witnessed one of its most sweltering Junes in recorded history, with Srinagar registering its hottest June since 1978 — and the second hottest since weather records began in 1892. Meanwhile, Qazigund logged its warmest June in over five decades, equalling the 1978 mark and just shy of the all-time record set in 1973.
According to data compiled by the India Meteorological Department and shared by local weather expert Faizan Arif from Kashmir Weather, Srinagar recorded an average maximum temperature of 31.0°C and a mean minimum of 18.2°C for June 2025, culminating in an overall monthly average of 24.6°C. This ties the year with the hot Junes of 1971 and 1973, but trails behind 1978, when the overall average was 25.0°C, driven by a soaring mean maximum of 32.9°C.
“Interestingly, despite this year’s high daytime temperatures, 2008 still holds the record for the highest mean minimum in June at 18.3°C — just a fraction above this year’s 18.2°C,” said Arif.
In Qazigund, the average temperature this June stood at 23.2°C, based on a mean maximum of 30.3°C and a mean minimum of 16.1°C. This is the highest overall average since 1973, when the mercury averaged 23.7°C. That year remains the station’s hottest June on record, with slightly higher figures — 30.4°C (max) and 16.9°C (min).
The temperature this June also equals the 1978 figure for Qazigund, though this year’s maximum was marginally higher while the minimum was a touch lower. The highest average minimum for Qazigund in June was recorded in 1971 at 17.3°C, with an overall monthly average of 23.3°C.
Speaking about the persistent heat, Faizan Arif, a local forecaster, said, “This prolonged spell of above-normal temperatures is a clear signal of shifting climatic patterns in the Valley. While June is typically warm, such consistently high temperatures across both day and night are rare and concerning.”
Meteorologists attribute the unusual warmth to a combination of factors, including prolonged dry spells, reduced western disturbances, and a broader regional warming trend. The persistent heat has led to increased electricity demand and concerns about water shortages in several parts of the Valley.
With July underway, residents are hoping for some respite in the form of monsoon showers. However, forecasts suggest that above-normal temperatures may continue in the early part of the month.