Scorching Srinagar: Hottest June Since 1978 Signals Climate Alarm for Kashmir

A City That Once Cooled India Now Melts in the Heat

By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 02 July 2025

For decades, Srinagar was celebrated as India’s summer escape—a serene, temperate haven cradled by mountains and cooled by the gentle flow of the Jhelum. This June, however, that cherished image was turned on its head. With the city logging an average temperature of 24.6°C, Srinagar has just endured its hottest June in 46 years—and the second hottest since weather records began in 1892.

From unbearably warm nights to parched rivers and stressed crops, the June of 2025 became a climate marker for Kashmir—a warning that the Valley is no longer insulated from global warming’s grasp.

By the Numbers: Srinagar’s Blistering June 2025

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Srinagar’s average daily maximum temperature in June 2025 stood at 31.0°C, with minimum temperatures averaging 18.2°C—a combination that produced a mean monthly average of 24.6°C.

Historical Context:

Not only were the days abnormally hot, but nights offered no relief. On June 26, Srinagar recorded a night temperature of 25°C—the highest ever for the month of June.

“This is not just heat; this is historic heat,” said Dr. Aamir Wani, a climatologist at Kashmir University. “It’s the kind of deviation you expect once in a century, not every few years.”

A Flip in the Climate Script: Srinagar Hotter Than Jammu

In a surreal twist, Srinagar was occasionally hotter than Jammu, a city known for its searing summers. On multiple days in late June, Srinagar’s maximum temperature surpassed that of Jammu by 1–2°C, flipping the traditional north-south heat gradient.

This anomaly hints at deep changes in regional atmospheric behavior. Factors like urban heat islands, lack of rainfall, and dry westerlies are believed to be driving a new temperature profile for Kashmir.

The Environmental Fallout: Dry Lakes, Stressed Crops

Extreme temperatures in June weren’t just uncomfortable—they triggered a cascade of environmental stress across the Valley.

 1. Jhelum and Wullar Shrinking Fast

• Jhelum River, Kashmir’s lifeline, has receded to one of its lowest June levels in decades.

• Wullar Lake, once Asia’s largest freshwater lake, is now showing signs of critical dehydration.

• Tributaries like Rambiyara, Lidder, and Ferozpura Nallah are witnessing reduced flow or drying stretches.

“In north Kashmir, canals are running dry. Paddy fields are cracking under the sun,” reported a farmer from Baramulla.

2. Paddy and Apple Orchards Suffer

• In Tangmarg and Sopore, irrigation-dependent crops like paddy are wilting.

• Apple orchards, already vulnerable to fungal disease during dry stress, have shown signs of early fruit drop.

This isn’t just a water issue—it’s an agricultural and economic emergency, especially in a region where over 60% of rural households depend on farming.

Why This Is Happening: The Science Behind the Scorching

While climate variability is not new, experts suggest that a combination of local and global factors is exacerbating heat conditions in Kashmir.

Global Warming at Play

The Himalayan region is warming faster than the global average. Several studies have shown a rise of 1.5–2.0°C in average temperatures over the last 50 years.

Shifting Weather Patterns

• Delayed and weak Western Disturbances (which usually bring pre-monsoon rain) failed to cool the Valley.

• Persistent high-pressure systems trapped heat over the region.

• Humidity levels rose, making heat feel even more intense.

“This is textbook anthropogenic climate change,” said Prof. Nasir Shah, head of Earth Sciences at the University of Kashmir. “We’re seeing systemic warming, not just a bad summer.”

The Urban Heat Island Effect: Srinagar’s Hidden Furnace

Another contributor to Kashmir’s rising temperatures is urbanization without planning.

How Cities Trap Heat:

• Concrete, asphalt, and steel retain heat more than natural landscapes.

• Loss of tree cover and wetlands reduces natural cooling.

• Unregulated construction and road widening increase surface area heat absorption.

Srinagar has lost over 30% of its urban green cover in two decades, while population density and vehicle usage have surged.

“We’re building a heat trap,” said architect and environmentalist Zoya Iqbal. “Without green infrastructure, we’re cooking ourselves alive.”

What Lies Ahead: Forecast for Early July

According to the Meteorological Department, the first few days of July will offer little relief:

• Hot and humid conditions will persist until July 4

• Only light, scattered rain is expected

• A slight temperature dip between July 5–7 is predicted due to possible weak western disturbances

The Bigger Worry

Even a temporary dip won’t solve the underlying hydrological stress. Groundwater depletion, reservoir shrinkage, and soil moisture loss are accumulating faster than they can be reversed.

From Resilience to Readiness: How Kashmir Must Respond

June 2025 should serve as a wake-up call, not just for meteorologists but for policymakers, citizens, and planners.

Here’s how Kashmir can build heat resilience and climate readiness:

1. Expand Urban Green Cover

• Launch a Valley-wide urban afforestation drive

• Convert unused plots into community gardens

• Encourage green rooftops and vertical gardens

2. Water Conservation Measures

• Mandate rainwater harvesting in all new constructions

• Restore and de-silt traditional irrigation channels (kulhs and canals)

• Protect wetlands and water bodies as temperature buffers

3. Climate-Smart Agriculture

• Promote heat- and drought-resilient paddy and apple varieties

• Train farmers in micro-irrigation techniques

• Offer insurance and subsidies for climate-related crop loss

4. Weather Early Warning Systems

• Install automated weather stations in every district

• Use SMS alerts and radio to warn farmers and citizens of extreme events

• Educate schoolchildren about climate basics and safety

Community Voices: How People Are Coping

In Lal Chowk, 65-year-old Bashir Ahmad closes his bakery by 2 PM instead of the usual 5. “We can’t breathe inside. It’s like an oven,” he says.

In Pattan, farmer Sameena Bano waters her paddy fields by hand using buckets. “There’s no water in the canal. We pray for rain every day,” she shares.

In Khanyar, 18-year-old Fiza wears wet scarves to sleep. “The fan just blows hot air. We’ve never felt this in June.”

These stories paint the real cost of climate change—not in charts, but in sweat, anxiety, and silent suffering.

Scientific Call to Action: Bridging Policy and Research

Experts believe Kashmir needs a dedicated Climate Change Council, combining the work of:

• The IMD

• Universities

• NGOs

• Urban local bodies

• Disaster Management Department

This council could oversee:

• Temperature monitoring

• Urban climate zoning

• Climate-risk modeling

• Green infrastructure investment

Conclusion: A Summer That Must Not Be Forgotten

June 2025 was not just hot—it was historic. A signal flare in Kashmir’s climate journey. From record-breaking temperatures to dying rivers and failing farms, the signs are too stark to ignore.

If Srinagar—the Valley’s cold crown—is warming faster than expected, what does the future hold for lower-lying towns, farms, and forests?

Kashmir must prepare for a hotter, drier, and more unpredictable future, but it must also remember its past—a past rooted in harmony with nature, not dominance over it.

Because the summer of 2025 might be a glimpse of many more to come—unless we act, plan, and adapt today.