Jammu residents felt relief from rising mercury as light rains lashed out area

Light rains Saturday provided respite to Jammu residents who were reeling under the scorching heat for the past week. The meteorological department has forecast light rain or thundershowers at many places in Jammu and Kashmir over the next 24 hours.

Jammu, the winter capital of the state, had experienced the season's highest day and night temperature on May 9 with a high of 40.1 degrees Celsius and a low of 25.5 degrees Celsius, which was 3.3 notches and 2.5 notches above season's average, respectively. The residents of Jammu woke up to pleasant weather this morning with heavy cloud cover and a light spell of rain bringing some relief from the blistering heat which has gripped the region since May 4.

Though the night temperature recorded in the city was 24.6 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees above normal, the day temperature is expected to drop and settle several degrees below normal, a MeT official department said. Jammu has recorded a maximum of 38.4 degrees Celsius, 1.6 degrees above normal, on Friday.

Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, recorded a minimum of 22.8 degrees Celsius, which was 2.8 notches above normal, the spokesman said.

(With inputs from agencies.)