Page 1
CLIMATE OF JAMMU
AND KASHMIR
The climate of Jammu and Kashmir, unlike other states of India, shows
some distinct characteristics. It ranges from sub-tropical to temperate and
Arctic cold desertic climate.
Climatic Zones of Jammu and Kashmir
ThestateofJammuandKashmirhasadistinctclimaticpatternduetoitsvaried
topography.Ithashillyterrainwithhighmountainsandvalleys.TheSouth-Western
partofthisstatecomprisedofplainswithlowelevation.As thestateisdividedinto
threeregions,namely,Jammu,KashmirvalleyandLadakh,allthethreeregionshave
adistinctclimaticzone.These climatic zones are as follows:
1. The Sub-tropical region of Jammu
2. The Temperate Kashmir valley
3. The Arctic cold desert areas of Ladakh
Sub-tropical Region of Jammu
Thisregionhasvariedtopographylikeplains,valleys,hillsandmountainsofPir
PanjalandShiwalikranges.ThisregioncomprisesofKathua,Jammu,Samba
Udhampur,Riasi,Doda,Ramban,Kishtwar,RajouriandPoonchdistrictsofthe
state.
TheSouth-WestpartofJammuregionhasatypicaltropicalmonsoonclimate.The
Southernpartsrecordmaximumtemperaturei.e.45°Cinsummerseasonespecially
inJunewhichishottestmonthinJammuregion.Duringthisperiodhotdrywinds
called‘loo’blow.Januaryisthecoldestmonthinwinterseasonofthisregion.The
meanminimumtemperatureoftheregionasawholeremains3°C inJanuary.Butin
thismonththemeanminimumtemperaturevariesfrom-1.9°CintheNorthern
highaltitudinalareasto7.8°CintheSouthernplains.DuetotheWestern
disturbances,amuchlowertemperatureisexperiencedduringwinterseason.
Page 2
CLIMATE OF JAMMU
AND KASHMIR
The climate of Jammu and Kashmir, unlike other states of India, shows
some distinct characteristics. It ranges from sub-tropical to temperate and
Arctic cold desertic climate.
Climatic Zones of Jammu and Kashmir
ThestateofJammuandKashmirhasadistinctclimaticpatternduetoitsvaried
topography.Ithashillyterrainwithhighmountainsandvalleys.TheSouth-Western
partofthisstatecomprisedofplainswithlowelevation.As thestateisdividedinto
threeregions,namely,Jammu,KashmirvalleyandLadakh,allthethreeregionshave
adistinctclimaticzone.These climatic zones are as follows:
1. The Sub-tropical region of Jammu
2. The Temperate Kashmir valley
3. The Arctic cold desert areas of Ladakh
Sub-tropical Region of Jammu
Thisregionhasvariedtopographylikeplains,valleys,hillsandmountainsofPir
PanjalandShiwalikranges.ThisregioncomprisesofKathua,Jammu,Samba
Udhampur,Riasi,Doda,Ramban,Kishtwar,RajouriandPoonchdistrictsofthe
state.
TheSouth-WestpartofJammuregionhasatypicaltropicalmonsoonclimate.The
Southernpartsrecordmaximumtemperaturei.e.45°Cinsummerseasonespecially
inJunewhichishottestmonthinJammuregion.Duringthisperiodhotdrywinds
called‘loo’blow.Januaryisthecoldestmonthinwinterseasonofthisregion.The
meanminimumtemperatureoftheregionasawholeremains3°C inJanuary.Butin
thismonththemeanminimumtemperaturevariesfrom-1.9°CintheNorthern
highaltitudinalareasto7.8°CintheSouthernplains.DuetotheWestern
disturbances,amuchlowertemperatureisexperiencedduringwinterseason.
The Temperate Kashmir Valley
ThevalleyofKashmirliesbetweenPirPanjalrangeandWesternendoftheGreat
Himalayanranges.ThisregioncomprisesofAnantnag,Budgam,Bandipora,
Kulgam,Shopian,Pulwama,Srinagar,Ganderbal,Baramulla andKupwaradistricts
ofthestate.Julyisthehottestmonthinsummerwhichrecordsthemeanmaximum
temperatureinthevalleyofabout27°C.Usually,summersarepleasantinthevalley
withshortduration(midMarchtoJuly).Winterseasoninthe valleyisverycoldand
oflongduration(NovembertoMarch).Januaryisthecoldest monthwhichrecords
themeanminimumtemperatureabout-5°C.Inthewinters,the meanmaximum
temperatureremains5°C.
The Arctic Cold Desert Areas of Ladakh
TheLadakhregionissituatedontherain-shadowsideoftheHimalayanmountains
andhashighaltitudinalareas.Itcomprisesonlytwodistrictsnamely,Lehand
Kargil.Marchisthehottestmonthinthisregionwhichrecordsthemeanmaximum
temperatureabout25.3°Candmeanminimumtemperatureabout10°C.During
ApriltoOctober,thebarrenlocationsofLadakhregionremainsverydryandhot.
DuetohavingboththeArcticanddesertclimate,Ladakhisknownasthe Cold
Desert.
Duetoitshighaltitude(3650m),theLadakhplateaurecords theminimum
temperaturerangingfrom-20°Cto-40°CfromDecembertoFebruary(inwinters).
Januaryisthecoldestmonthofthisregionwhichrecordsameanminimum
temperatureofabout-14.4°Candmeanmaximumtemperatureabout-2°C.
Local Names for the Seasons of Jammu,
Kashmir and Ladakh Region
Season Local Term
Spring Sont
Summer Retkol (Grishm)
Rainy Waharat
Autumn Harud
Winter Wandah
Ice Cold Shishur
Rainfall Distribution in Jammu and Kashmir
JammuandKashmirreceivesabout103cmofitstotalannualprecipitation.The
precipitationoccursintheformofrainandsnow.TheWesternDisturbancesbring
heavysnowfallinthestateduringwinterseason.Theheaviestsnowfalloccursinthe
monthsofJanuaryandFebruary.Rainfallinthestatevaries duetoitsvaried
topography.
Page 3
CLIMATE OF JAMMU
AND KASHMIR
The climate of Jammu and Kashmir, unlike other states of India, shows
some distinct characteristics. It ranges from sub-tropical to temperate and
Arctic cold desertic climate.
Climatic Zones of Jammu and Kashmir
ThestateofJammuandKashmirhasadistinctclimaticpatternduetoitsvaried
topography.Ithashillyterrainwithhighmountainsandvalleys.TheSouth-Western
partofthisstatecomprisedofplainswithlowelevation.As thestateisdividedinto
threeregions,namely,Jammu,KashmirvalleyandLadakh,allthethreeregionshave
adistinctclimaticzone.These climatic zones are as follows:
1. The Sub-tropical region of Jammu
2. The Temperate Kashmir valley
3. The Arctic cold desert areas of Ladakh
Sub-tropical Region of Jammu
Thisregionhasvariedtopographylikeplains,valleys,hillsandmountainsofPir
PanjalandShiwalikranges.ThisregioncomprisesofKathua,Jammu,Samba
Udhampur,Riasi,Doda,Ramban,Kishtwar,RajouriandPoonchdistrictsofthe
state.
TheSouth-WestpartofJammuregionhasatypicaltropicalmonsoonclimate.The
Southernpartsrecordmaximumtemperaturei.e.45°Cinsummerseasonespecially
inJunewhichishottestmonthinJammuregion.Duringthisperiodhotdrywinds
called‘loo’blow.Januaryisthecoldestmonthinwinterseasonofthisregion.The
meanminimumtemperatureoftheregionasawholeremains3°C inJanuary.Butin
thismonththemeanminimumtemperaturevariesfrom-1.9°CintheNorthern
highaltitudinalareasto7.8°CintheSouthernplains.DuetotheWestern
disturbances,amuchlowertemperatureisexperiencedduringwinterseason.
The Temperate Kashmir Valley
ThevalleyofKashmirliesbetweenPirPanjalrangeandWesternendoftheGreat
Himalayanranges.ThisregioncomprisesofAnantnag,Budgam,Bandipora,
Kulgam,Shopian,Pulwama,Srinagar,Ganderbal,Baramulla andKupwaradistricts
ofthestate.Julyisthehottestmonthinsummerwhichrecordsthemeanmaximum
temperatureinthevalleyofabout27°C.Usually,summersarepleasantinthevalley
withshortduration(midMarchtoJuly).Winterseasoninthe valleyisverycoldand
oflongduration(NovembertoMarch).Januaryisthecoldest monthwhichrecords
themeanminimumtemperatureabout-5°C.Inthewinters,the meanmaximum
temperatureremains5°C.
The Arctic Cold Desert Areas of Ladakh
TheLadakhregionissituatedontherain-shadowsideoftheHimalayanmountains
andhashighaltitudinalareas.Itcomprisesonlytwodistrictsnamely,Lehand
Kargil.Marchisthehottestmonthinthisregionwhichrecordsthemeanmaximum
temperatureabout25.3°Candmeanminimumtemperatureabout10°C.During
ApriltoOctober,thebarrenlocationsofLadakhregionremainsverydryandhot.
DuetohavingboththeArcticanddesertclimate,Ladakhisknownasthe Cold
Desert.
Duetoitshighaltitude(3650m),theLadakhplateaurecords theminimum
temperaturerangingfrom-20°Cto-40°CfromDecembertoFebruary(inwinters).
Januaryisthecoldestmonthofthisregionwhichrecordsameanminimum
temperatureofabout-14.4°Candmeanmaximumtemperatureabout-2°C.
Local Names for the Seasons of Jammu,
Kashmir and Ladakh Region
Season Local Term
Spring Sont
Summer Retkol (Grishm)
Rainy Waharat
Autumn Harud
Winter Wandah
Ice Cold Shishur
Rainfall Distribution in Jammu and Kashmir
JammuandKashmirreceivesabout103cmofitstotalannualprecipitation.The
precipitationoccursintheformofrainandsnow.TheWesternDisturbancesbring
heavysnowfallinthestateduringwinterseason.Theheaviestsnowfalloccursinthe
monthsofJanuaryandFebruary.Rainfallinthestatevaries duetoitsvaried
topography.
Rainfall in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Region
Jammu Region
Thisregionreceiveshighrainfall.Riasidistrict(inJammu)receivesmaximum
rainfall(132cm)inayear.TheSouth-WestpartofJammuregionreceivesrainfall
mostlyduringSouth-Westmonsoonseason.TheNorthernandNorth-Easternareas
ofJammuregionreceivesnowfall.Thetotalannualrainfall oftheregionisabout
136cm.
Kashmir Valley Region
ThisregionduetofrequentWesterndisturbancesreceivesheavyrainfalland
snowfallinwinterandpre-monsoonseason.Thetotalannual rainfallofthisregion
isabout86cm.
Ladakh Region
Thisregionreceivesverylessrainfall.ItisthedriestpartofJammuandKashmir.
Lehdistrict(inLadakh)receivestheminimumrainfalli.e.10 cminayear.This
regionreceivesitsannualrainfallfrompre-monsoon(32%),South-Westmonsoon
(29%),postmonsoon(10%)andwinterseason(29%).
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