The prolonged dry spell in Kashmir is likely to end as snowfall and rain are forecast from December 18, coinciding almost perfectly with the onset of Chille Kalan. The Meteorological Department has announced that weather conditions will turn from largely dry to generally cloudy, with snowfall expected in higher reaches and rain across the plains.
An official from the Meteorological Department confirmed that from December 18 to 19, the region will experience partly to generally cloudy conditions. Isolated higher reaches in North and Central Kashmir may witness very light snowfall. The weather is set to shift more significantly with a western disturbance predicted to affect the region beginning late on December 20, bringing light to moderate snowfall to the higher elevations.
As the disturbances roll in, the Message from MeT suggests travelers exercise caution. According to the advisory, travelers and transporters should carefully plan their journeys and heed all traffic and administrative advisories due to integrated weather changes expected in the days ahead.
“On December 21, some higher reaches in districts like Kupwara, Bandipora, and Ganderbal may receive moderate to heavy snowfall,” the official noted. This weather pattern is closely linked with the broader climatic events that characterize the winter months in the Valley.
The predictions indicate that generally cloudy weather will linger on December 22, with scattered instances of light rain or snowfall. Following this, weather patterns from December 23 to 29 are likely to remain cloudy. The forecast for the end of December suggests December 30 and 31 will also host cloudy conditions, with light snowfall potentially occurring in isolated higher reaches.
Despite the imminent snowfall, temperatures in Jammu and Kashmir have surprisingly remained above normal throughout recent days. For instance, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 10.6°C, which is roughly 1.2°C above average. The minimum settled at 0.2°C, indicating a milder than expected winter thus far.
In the ski resort of Gulmarg, noticeable warmth prevails as the maximum temperature reached 8.8°C, nearly 4°C above normal. Similarly, north Kashmir areas like Kupwara showed a maximum of 10.8°C, with a drop to -1.0°C at night. Pahalgam recorded highs of 11.2°C and lows of 0.4°C, while Qazigund demonstrated a maximum of 13.0°C with a minimum of 0.8°C.
In Jammu, the region’s main city recorded temperatures reaching 22.3°C during the day and a nighttime minimum of 11.0°C. This variety in temperatures illustrates the diverse climatic conditions prevalent in the state.
As of now, the last 24 hours have seen no precipitation recorded at any station across Jammu and Kashmir. The Meteorological Department remains vigilant in monitoring these weather changes, reminding residents and travelers of the necessity to prepare for the fluctuating conditions characteristic of winter in the region.
