Sunday 10th May, 2026
Snowfall continues for 2nd day in Kashmir; normal life disrupted
Srinagar, Feb 7: (UNI) Moderate to heavy snowfall continued for the second successive day in the summer capital, Srinagar, world ski resort of Gulmarg and other parts of Kashmir valley, disrupting normal life.
The night temperature dipped at majority of the places in the valley though it remained above normal. However, the maximum temperature dipped and settled several degrees below normal due to snowfall.
A Met department spokesperson told UNI that widespread moderate to heavy snowfall would occur during the next 24 hours in Kashmir. “The weather will start to improve from Friday afternoon,” he said.
However, he said a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching the region through Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit the region on Sunday evening. “Under the influence of the WD more rain and snow would occur in the valley next week,” he added.
Authorities have issued a weather warning in avalanche prone areas in Kashmir division, including Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kargil and Leh, during the next 24 hours
Normal life was disrupted in Srinagar, where majority of the roads, particularly in interior areas, remained closed due to accumulation of about a foot of snow. Rooftops and trees turned white while open fields and roads were covered with a thin blanket of snow in Srinagar, where the night temperature dipped and settled slightly below normal. Against 1 degree recorded on Wednesday, the night temperature in Srinagar was minus 0.5 degree.
Commuters alleged that they were facing problems as snow was not cleared on majority of the roads in the city. “Snow was not cleared from the interior roads so I could not use my car. I went outside thinking that the main road will be cleared, but to my surprise the main road was also not cleared. I had to walk all the way from Nowgam to Lal Chowk as there was no public transport available,” Tawseef Ahmad Mir, a salesman in a shop in Residence Road, told UNI.
The Met spokesperson said that light snow would occur during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 4 degree and minus 1 degree, respectively.
Meanwhile, much to the delight of tourists, Gulmarg, where ski slopes are covered under several feet of snow, received fresh heavy snowfall since Wednesday morning. The upper heights, including Khilanmarg, Seven spring and Affarwat, the highest ski point connected by Cable Car, also received heavy snowfall during the past 24 hours.
The night temperature in the ski resort, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, improved and settled at minus 4 degree, against minus 4.6 degree recorded on Wednesday. The night temperature in Gulmarg was about 3 degree above normal.
World famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 from here in south Kashmir, also received fresh snowfall since Wednesday, resulting in dip in the day temperature. However, the night temperature remained constant since Wednesday at minus 0.6 degree, which is about 6 degree above normal.
The upper reaches in Pahalgam, including Chandanwari, received fresh light to moderate snowfall. Amarnath cave shine and its periphery besides Sheshnag, Mahagung, Pisso top and Panjterni also received snowfall for the second day.
Another health resort of Sonmarg on Srinagar-Leh National Highway also received intermittent snowfall since Wednesday. Baltal, base camp of Amarnath yatra from the shortest yatra route, also experienced fresh snowfall. Fresh snowfall was also received at Zojila, Zero-point, Meenmarg and other places on Srinagar-Leh National highway, which connects Ladakh region with Kashmir valley. The highway remained closed due to accumulation of several feet of snow at various places from over two months.
The border town of Kargil was the coldest place in the region at minus 16.4 degrees, while the night temperature improved about a degree from Wednesday and settled at minus 3.2 degree.
Snow continued in other parts of the valley, including Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama in south and Kupwara, Bandipora and Baramulla in north Kashmir, resulting in disruption of normal life.