Srinagar, April 15 -- Srinagar recorded the highest ever maximum temperature of 31.1 degrees Celsius on April 20, 1946, the officials of the meteorological department said.

Other parts of the Valley followed suit. Qazigund touched 29.8degC, Kupwara 29.5degC, Kokernag 27.5degC, and Pahalgam 25.4degC - all marking the hottest day of the season so far. Even the snow-covered slopes of Gulmarg weren't spared, where temperatures soared to 20.7degC - a startling 11.2degC above normal.

Amid the unexpected heatwave, the Meteorological Department (MeT) has issued yellow and orange weather alerts for April 18 and 19 (Friday and Saturday), forecasting a significant shift in weather conditions.

According to the MeT forecast, a yellow alert has been...