CLIMATE

The orography i.e. high mountain terrains marked with series of high ridges and narrow deep valleys, in the Kashmir valley has a pronounced effect on  climate which varies with aspect and elevation. These mountains not only protect the valley from the blasting cold of the north but also from the scorching heat of the south. It is bracing weather and the scenic beauty of the valley which inspired the famous Mughal Emperor Jehangir to express his feelings in the following poetic outburst.

 Agar Fridous Barroye Zameen Ast ;

 Hammen Ast-ou-Hameen Ast-ou Hameen Ast,

 [ If there be a paradise on earth,

 It is this, it is this and it is this. ]

Dr.G.M.D. Sufi, while describing the weather of Kashmir,sums it up in these words.

“Heat there is, but hot ‘t is not

 Cold there is, but cold ‘t is not”

Similarly, Urfi Sherazai a famous poet commented upon salubrious climate of Kashmir in the following couplet:

“Har Sookta Janai ki Ba Kashmir Dar ayad;

 Gar Murgi-Kabab Ast ba Bal-u-par Ayad.”

 [ Any burnt creature entering Kashmir,

  Even if a roasted fowl,it shall grow feathers ].

The climate of Kashmir is temprate like that of Mediterranian region with snow falling in winter and thawing in spring, followed by temperate summer and dry autumn, when leaf shedding takes place.

Kashmir’s have determined their own norms to describe the seasons of the year and accordingly calendar their agriculture activities. The duration of these seasons with local names is as follows:-

LOCAL NAME                   English name and duration

1. Soonth                          Spring (Mid March to Mid May)

2. Grishim                         Summer (Mid May to Mid July)

3. Wahrat                          Rains (Mid July to Mid September)

4. Har’ud                           Autumn (Mid September to Mid November)

5. Wand                            Winter (Mid November to Mid January)

6.Sheshur                         Severe cold (Mid January to Mid March)

Although the nomenclature and periodization, determined locally, hold true with regard to local conditions, the over-all weather conditions of the valley can’t be studied in isolation of the main synoptic system which cause weather in the sub-continent during the different seasons of the year. According to this classification, the chief features of the climate in Kashmir are:

Winter : December, January, February:

 Winter is the cold weather period. Very low temperature prevail during this season. January is the coldest month and generally the temperature goes down below the freezing point. The main synoptic system which determine weather during this season are western disturbances, which generally cause copious snowfalls and the valley becomes prone to cold waves.

It is pertinent to mention here that the famous river Jehlum  got frozen in 1658, 1759, 1764, 1780, 1816, 1879, 1895, during winter season, but the winter of 1759 A.D was much prolonged which stands recorded as follows:

 “Kah shat tah dusata os Sanai,

 Hutimi navime laji ye Veth”

[It was 9^th pisces,1172 Hijra or 31^st March,1759 A.D. when the river Jehlum was frozen for a longer period.]

Spring: March, April, May:

This is the transitional period between winter and summer and  general warming up starts. Spells of abnormal maximum temperatures occur especially in May. Remarkable features of spring weather are frequent and sudden storms of rain and hail about the end of March and beginning of April, followed by heavy showers in May.

Summer : June, July, August:

The hottest months are June,July and greater part of August during which the temperature goes on rising gradually. High temperature coupled with high humidity (70-80 percent) make the weather very oppressive except at health resorts where the cold and gentle breeze blowing from dense forests makes the weather pleasant. Unlike other major states of the sub-continent, where heavy down-pour as a result of monsoon rains gives relief to people from the scorching heat. Kashmir witnesses very little rainfall during summer as the Pir Panjal plays an obstructive role for in-coming monsoon clouds.
Autumn: September, October, November:

  Autumn is the best season in Kashmir. The climate during the period is highly invigorating and often has been  described as “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”. This is the last season in the cycle when temperature begins to fall from mid September till it becomes moderate in October and tolerable in November. The season is marked by departure and arrival of various species of migratory birds. There are least weather disturbances during this season.

Precipitation :Rain and Snow:

Precipitation during winter is mostly in the form of snow, although at lower elevations rain may also occur.On the windward sides of the mountains, the precipitation usually increases upto the elevation of 1.5 kms. above the sea level and above that it decreases due to reduced moisture in the air.

In the plain areas also, variation will be observed in distribution pattern of the rain/snow depending upon altitude of a particular place and its topography.

Heavy snowfall occurs in January to March over the entire region. In February, Kashmir valley is often in the grip of snow, accumulation may reach 3 meters.In winter, the snowline is lowest and slides below 2 Kms. above the sea level.June and July are generally free from snowfall, although it may still occur high peaks.Snow begins to melt in April when snow line begins to ascend. 

TEMPRATURE:

As the isolation at high altitude is intence due to rarefied and transparent atmosphere, soil and rocks absorb radiation, and heat up, rapidly resulting in high temperature in the open than in the shade. Mountain slopes turned away from the sun. Similarly, east-facing slopes experience warm mornings and cold evenings, while reverse is the case with the west-facing slopes.Variations in temperature from place to place are, therefore, considerable depending upon elevation and exposure to the sun.Immediately after the sunset, ground begins to cool rapidly, owing to radiation through the racefied atmosphere.

January,is the coldest month. Thereafter, temperature rises rapidly till June and slightly till July, which is the warmest month. The main valley is the warmest portion of the region. Here, at an elevation of about 1.5 Kms. above the sea level, the mean maximum temperature touches 31^o Celsius while at slightly higher stations,the temperature is lower by 3⁰  celsius.In  winter also, the mean maximum temperature at Srinagar is higher by 30 celsius than at higher stations. The fall in temperature is conspicuous after September. December to February is the coldest part of the year when the minimum temperature on the mean are below the freezing point. During the cold season, cold waves in the rear of the western disturbances may cause the temperature to fall appreciably. Frost is common during December to February.

HUMIDITY:

The humidity is high in the morning throughout the year. It is 90 percent during December to February which is said to be maximum. The lowest humidity is 40-45 percent which is recorded during May-June, particularly in the afternoon.

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE (CLOUDS):

Maximum atmospheric pressure in the valley is witnessed from December to April when, for the most part, sky remains overcast.Very little clouds are observed in July and October but moisture carried upwards by the ascending  currents, result in the cloud-formation in the afternoon. During night Katbati winds carry moisture downwards and clouds tend to disappear at high elevations, offering a clear view of the ,mountain peaks in the early morning  The annual range of station level pressure is of the order of 12.5 million.

WINDS:

In winter surface winds are generally light and variable but, with the approach of spring, the surface winds strengthen and take up westerly to south westerly direction, with mean wind speed of 6 Km/hr. During summer, the surface winds have an easterly component but mean wind speed reduces to 3.6 Km/hrs to 4km/hr. In autumn, sutface winds have north westerly direction and are light.

The terrain gives rise to various types of local winds. Katabatic flow in the valleys is strong. They gain intensively whose blowing over snowfields and glaciers,Winds blowing through the mountain-gaps emerge as strong currents.

WEATHER PHENOMENA:

Thunderstorms mostly occur during March-October and are most frequent during April-July or August, with at least, seven days with thunder in each of the months.A few of the thunderstorms may be accompanied with hail, particularly in March and April.The period November-February is relatively free from thunder. Ascending moisture tends to cause development of thunderous conditions in the afternoons. Fog is common in December to March.Thick radiation fog occur in winter months in the wake of western disturbances, particularly when the sky clears up after a spell of precipitation.At night moisture is carried down into valleys which remain, therefore, covered with fog at night and early in the morning.