The prolonged dry spell in Kashmir will likely end as rainfall and snowfall are set to arrive just before Chille Kalan. The region has experienced nearly two weeks of dry weather, but the Meteorological Department announced weather changes starting from December 18 to 19.
Weather conditions will remain partly to generally cloudy, with isolated higher elevations in North and Central Kashmir seeing very light snowfall.
An official from the Meteorological Department (MeT) explained, “A more active western disturbance will affect the region from late night of December 20 to December 21, bringing light to moderate snowfall over higher reaches of the Kashmir division and light to moderate rain at various locations in the plains.”
Forecasters expect December 22 to show generally cloudy weather with light rain or snowfall in scattered areas. The period from December 23 to 29 will likely remain partly to generally cloudy, with December 30 and 31 also presenting generally cloudy conditions and the chance for light snowfall in higher regions.
The MeT Department has issued a snowfall advisory, warning that some higher reaches in Kupwara, Bandipora, and Ganderbal districts may experience moderate to heavy snowfall, particularly on December 21. Travelers and transporters should adhere to traffic and administrative advisories for their safety.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir has recorded temperatures predominantly above normal. Srinagar clocked a maximum of 10.6°C, which is about 1.2°C above average, while the minimum temperature settled at 0.2°C. Gulmarg reported a maximum of 8.8°C, nearly 4°C above normal, with a minimum temperature of 1.6°C.
Higher temperature records also appeared in North Kashmir, with Kupwara reaching a maximum of 10.8°C and a minimum of -1.0°C. Similarly, Pahalgam registered 11.2°C for maximum and 0.4°C for minimum, while Qazigund recorded a maximum temperature of 13.0°C and a minimum of 0.8°C.
In the Jammu region, the weather was particularly warm, with Jammu city reporting a maximum of 22.3°C and a minimum of 11.0°C.
Notably, the MeT Department confirmed that no rainfall occurred in any station across Jammu and Kashmir in the past 24 hours. This news offers a glimmer of hope for local farmers and residents eagerly anticipating winter precipitation to revive their landscapes.
