Kashmir Valley Much Hotter Than Before: Mercury Frequently Breaches Twenty Degrees In February
Key Takeaways:
- February 2026 became the warmest February on record for Srinagar.
- Day temperatures across the Valley were about 9°C above normal.
- Multiple stations, including Qazigund, Gulmarg, and Kupwara, broke long-standing records.
- Two approaching Western Disturbances may bring relief and snowfall between 7th–10th March.
Kashmir Valley witnessed record-breaking heat this February. A large excess in day temperatures was observed in February 2026. Similar conditions will roll over into March, and the Valley is in for much warmer days ahead. Most tourist attractions like Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam observed a nearly unprecedented spike in mercury levels.
Srinagar, Pahalgam, and Gulmarg recorded day temperatures above normal by about 9°C. Srinagar has persistently stayed above 20°C since 19th February 2026. The capital city yesterday recorded a day high of 21°C, about 9°C above average. Similarly, Pahalgam and Gulmarg were also above average by 9°C and 9.1°C, respectively. Srinagar recorded a day temperature of 21°C or more for four days during the last week of February 2026. As such, the rarefied atmosphere at hill stations due to elevation makes it feel much warmer at these temperatures. The ‘feels-like’ factor could be nearly 30°C when compared with the plains.
February 2026 witnessed record-breaking heat in Srinagar. The mean monthly day temperature was 15.6°C against the normal of 10.5°C. A single-digit maximum temperature was recorded only on four days during the month. The capital city earlier had a record of 14.9°C as the February average in 2016. Now, February 2026 has become the all-time warmest February in historical records. February, once synonymous with cold and freezing conditions, has changed its character to become warm, yet still pleasant. This February gave an early feel of ‘spring’ in the Valley.
Many other locations in the Valley also witnessed rising temperatures during February 2026. Qazigund overtook the earlier record of 14.1°C in 2016 with 15.2°C in February 2026. Similarly, Pahalgam and Gulmarg surpassed their earlier records of 11.6°C and 5.9°C from 2016 and 2006, replacing them with fresh marks of 12°C and 7°C, respectively. Kupwara was another location that breached its former record of 14.7°C from 2016 by a slender margin of 0.1°C in February 2026.
March has also started on a warmer note. However, two back-to-back Western Disturbances are approaching within the next 10 days. The Valley is expected to see a substantial reduction in day temperatures in the coming days. Snowfall is also likely at elevated places like Gulmarg and Pahalgam between 07th and 10th March 2026.
