Srinagar, Oct 08: Kashmir’s brief spell of summer-like October warmth gave way to a dramatic autumn storm on Thursday, as dark clouds swept across the Valley, unleashing hail, rain, lightning and gusty winds that battered Srinagar and other districts, damaging crops and orchards.
Strong winds and rain also created difficult conditions on Dal Lake, where tourists were caught amid the deteriorating weather. SDRF personnel subsequently rescued tourists stranded on the lake amid strong winds and rain.
Reports from various parts of Srinagar said rooftops of many houses were blown off. Cart sellers and footpath vendors also faced difficulty as high-intensity winds swept through the City Centre, forcing them to look for their belongings and temporary shelters.
The sudden change transformed the Valley within hours—from bright, unusually warm October days to turbulent skies, rattling winds and bursts of hail. Bandipora district in north Kashmir witnessed a sudden hailstorm accompanied by rain and strong winds, while similar weather activity was reported from parts of central and south Kashmir. Witnesses said Ganderbal district and the majority of its parts were swept by gusty winds, rains and hailstorms. Similar reports poured in from southern and northern districts. Zojila Pass witnessed light snowfall, as per locals.
In South Kashmir and parts of north Kashmir, crops and orchards suffered immense damage.
“Hail has damaged apple crop and paddy harvest at many places,” said Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers president Bashir Ahmad Basheer. “Exact nature of damage will be known once we have a detailed field visit.”
The spell comes just days after Kashmir experienced extraordinary October warmth. Srinagar touched 31.2°C on October 4, its second-highest October temperature on record, while Qazigund recorded 31.4°C, a new October record. Gulmarg also recorded 23.2°C, highlighting the exceptional warmth that prevailed across the Valley at the beginning of the month.
Independent weatherman Faizan Arif said the early-October warmth was highly unusual, with temperatures soaring well above the normal range at several stations before the weather pattern changed abruptly.
Director Meteorological Centre Srinagar Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said: “Weather would remain unsettled in phases, with thunderstorms, lightning, rain and gusty winds possible during the active periods.”
“October is a very important transition period for Kashmir, with temperatures gradually falling and weather systems becoming more active. During this period, the higher reaches can experience snowfall while the plains may witness spells of rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds,” he said.
The Meteorological Centre Srinagar has issued a warning for thunderstorms, lightning and squally winds on October 8, 9 and 10. The weather is expected to improve temporarily on October 11 and 12, while another spell of thunderstorm activity is likely on October 13 and 14.
The MeT has also indicated the possibility of light snowfall over higher reaches during precipitation spells, signalling the first significant taste of changing autumn conditions at higher elevations.
The weather office has advised farmers to complete harvesting operations wherever possible and ensure the safe storage of harvested apples and paddy in view of the forecast.
Minister for Rural Development Department Javaid Ahmad Dar told Rising Kashmir that he has directed all concerned departments to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the damage caused by the recent weather conditions.
“District-level teams have been constituted and asked to visit the affected areas, assess the extent of damage and submit detailed reports. I have also held a meeting with the concerned departments to review the situation and the response mechanism. I will personally visit the affected areas and assess the damage on the ground,” he said.
“Our priority is to ensure that the losses suffered by farmers and other affected people are properly documented and that necessary measures are taken on the basis of the assessment. The government will closely monitor the situation and ensure that all possible assistance is extended to those affected,” the minister said.
The contrast could hardly be sharper. Kashmir began October under record-breaking warmth, with temperatures resembling late summer, but within days the Valley has been swept by a distinctly autumn storm of hail, thunder, lightning and fierce winds.
For a region already witnessing increasingly erratic weather patterns, Thursday’s sudden turnaround offered another stark reminder of how quickly Kashmir’s weather can swing from record heat to violent convective storms.
