Srinagar, Mar 19: Winter-like chill made a brief comeback in the Kashmir on Thursday, with fresh snowfall in higher reaches and widespread rainfall across the plains, pushing temperatures well below normal across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Popular tourist destinations, including Gulmarg and Pahalgam, received fresh snowfall, while Srinagar and other low-lying areas witnessed persistent rain.
The sudden drop in temperatures forced residents to revert to traditional heating methods such as kangris and hamams, along with electric heaters.
Higher-altitude areas, including Razdan Pass, Gurez and Tulail in Bandipora, Sadhna Top in Kupwara, Sinthan Top and Margan Top in south Kashmir, and Pir Ki Gali along the Mughal Road, recorded moderate snowfall ranging from 6 to 8 inches. Snowfall was also reported in Sonamarg, Gulmarg, and Doodpathri.
“Higher altitudes have been witnessing intermittent snowfall since Sunday, leaving most mountainous regions blanketed in fresh snow,” an official said.
In contrast, plains such as Srinagar experienced continuous rainfall, contributing to a sharp drop in temperatures.
Srinagar recorded a maximum of 9.5 degrees Celsius, nearly 6.5 degrees Celsius below normal, officials said.
He said that maximum temperatures in other stations also dipped way below normal.
Gulmarg recorded 2.5 degrees Celsius (3.3 degrees Celsius below normal); Pahalgam, minus 7 degrees Celsius (5.9 degrees Celsius below normal); Kokernag, 8.5 degrees Celsius (6.7 degrees Celsius below normal); Kupwara, 9.4 degrees Celsius (6.8 degrees Celsius below normal); and Qazigund 9.5 degrees Celsius (6.5 degrees Celsius below normal).
The fresh snowfall since Wednesday led to the closure of several key roads and high-altitude passes.
“The Gurez-Bandipora road, Sinthan-Kishtwar road and Margan Top-Warwan road have remained closed for the fourth consecutive day,” an official said, adding that the Mughal Road was also shut due to snow accumulation at Pir Ki Gali.
Traffic on the Srinagar-Leh highway remained suspended.
Snowfall across the Zojila axis-including Minimarg, Drass and Gumri forced the closure of the Srinagar-Kargil highway.
“The highway has been closed due to continuous snowfall across the Zojila sector, making the road unsafe for traffic,” an official said, citing slippery conditions, reduced visibility and avalanche risks.
Road maintenance agencies, including the Border Roads Organisation, are monitoring the situation and will begin snow clearance operations once conditions improve.
Despite the adverse weather, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained open for two-way traffic, although rainfall continued along the Nashri-Banihal stretch.
In the Jammu division, plains recorded light to moderate rainfall, while higher reaches – including parts of Kishtwar, Marwah and Warwan – received snowfall. Authorities restricted vehicular movement in vulnerable areas as a precaution.
The ongoing wet spell also boosted tourist activity in Gulmarg, where visitor numbers increased following fresh snowfall.
Officials said about 5 to 6 inches of new snow accumulated at the resort since the previous day.
Precipitation was recorded across multiple stations in the past 24 hours.
“Srinagar recorded 1.4 mm of rainfall, Pahalgam 7 mm, Kupwara 1.4 mm, Kokernag 2 mm, and Qazigund 8 mm,” an official said.
“In the Jammu region, Jammu recorded 3.2 mm, Banihal 9.8 mm, Batote 5.6 mm, Katra 6.2 mm, and Bhaderwah 1.8 mm.”
The Ladakh region also witnessed snowfall in higher reaches, including Leh, Kargil, Drass, and Nubra.
The Meteorological Department has forecast continued unstable weather until March 20, with intermittent rain and snowfall expected across several areas.
“There is a possibility of brief spells of light rain or snow in higher reaches at isolated places till March 20,” the MeT Office said.
It also warned of thunderstorms, gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph and isolated hailstorms, advising farmers to suspend agricultural activities during this period.
Meteorological Centre Director Mukhtar Ahmad said the wet spell began as expected on March 18 and would continue through March 20.
“This activity is likely to continue until the afternoon of March 20. During the night, there are chances of moderate to heavy snowfall in some hilly regions, especially in parts of the Chenab Valley and south Kashmir,” he said.
Ahmad said that light to moderate rainfall is expected in the plains, with thunderstorms and gusty winds possible in some areas.
From March 21 onward, weather conditions are expected to improve.
“The weather is generally expected to remain stable and mostly fine from March 21 to 26,” Ahmad said, adding that brief spells of rain or snow are possible around March 23 and again between March 26 and 31.
