Srinagar, Aug 13: Jammu and Kashmir recorded a 35 per cent surplus in rainfall during July 2026, bringing an end to an eight-month spell of below-normal precipitation that had persisted since November 2025.

According to rainfall data compiled by independent weather Forecaster Faizan Arif, Jammu and Kashmir received 259.7 mm of rainfall during July against the normal monthly average of 192.6 mm, marking the first month of above-normal precipitation after a prolonged dry phase.
According to Arif, the improvement was particularly significant across the Kashmir Valley, where almost every district recorded surplus rainfall.
Baramulla registered the highest rainfall surplus in the Valley at 165 per cent, followed by Ganderbal at 110 per cent and Pulwama at 108 per cent. Srinagar and Anantnag both recorded a 71 per cent surplus, while Kulgam received 51 per cent more rainfall than normal.
Bandipora and Kupwara recorded surpluses of 33 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively, while Budgam remained slightly above normal with a 6 per cent surplus.
Shopian was the only district in Kashmir to record below-normal rainfall, registering a deficit of 40 per cent during the month.
The Jammu region also witnessed substantial rainfall across most districts. Ramban recorded the highest surplus at 125 per cent, followed by Udhampur at 108 per cent, Samba at 91 per cent and Rajouri at 88 per cent.
Poonch recorded a 47 per cent surplus, while Doda and Reasi registered surpluses of 17 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively. Jammu district remained close to normal with a marginal 3 per cent surplus.
However, the pattern was not uniform across the region, with Kathua recording a 25 per cent deficit and Kishtwar a 16 per cent deficit.
In Ladakh, Kargil recorded a remarkable 426 per cent surplus, receiving 10 mm of rainfall against a normal of 1.9 mm, while Leh recorded 31 mm against a normal of 11.2 mm, resulting in a 177 per cent surplus.
Arif said the widespread rainfall during July marked a significant turnaround after months of deficient precipitation across Jammu and Kashmir.