Following the persistent dry weather conditions, the month of February of the ongoing year has been recorded as one of the driest months in the history of Jammu and Kashmir since 1960’s.
In terms of total rainfall (14.2mm), there was an overall water deficit of 89% of the average rainfall expected for the month (130.4mm).
The lack of rain may not only be an indication that there are going to be periods without adequate winter rain, which will have a devastating effect on a region where the snowmelt is needed to sustain life; it also represents a strong portent of what the region will face in the upcoming years.
February 2026 rainfall will be an undeniable indicator for a region that depends heavily upon snowmelt for its survival and the production of fruit by the time of year when the snow has melted, as well as being a part of its identity connected to the change of seasons.
For a 7th straight year, February 2026 marks yet another year of record low precipitation in Jammu and Kashmir, with the winter (2025-2026) rain total being 100.6 mm or 65% less than what would typically be expected (284.9mm).
The situation is not simply due to abnormal weather conditions; this is an example of a changing trend that is becoming increasingly more common.
There is more to the story of this past month’s lack of rain as a direct result of the lack of rain, temperatures have risen significantly throughout the region.
February 2026 has been unusually warm, and every single site from around the entire Valley has recorded the highest temperature ever recorded for that month.
The combination of extreme precipitation failures combined with record heat have totally destroyed the Valley’s most important natural infrastructure – its snowpack.
We are essentially taking all of our hydrology savings out before summer even starts.
As such, the ramifications extend beyond ski runs and lodge accommodations.
Now the question arise that can our water management system deal JK with a rainfall deficits ?
