Fresh snowfall on Wednesday covered the higher reaches of Kashmir, including parts of Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam, while overnight rain brought cooler conditions to the plains of the Valley. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more rain and snow till Thursday, with thunderstorms and gusty winds likely at isolated places. The weather is expected to improve from Friday, though brief showers cannot be ruled out.
Some areas saw brighter skies on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, overnight rain brought cooler conditions to the Valley’s plains, including Srinagar. The change has interrupted the relatively mild autumn weather, although the latest spell does not mark the onset of Kashmir’s winter season. The rain and snowfall have affected daytime temperatures across the region. Cloud cover and rain have kept daytime temperatures lower, while snowfall at higher elevations has brought colder conditions to the mountains. However, the temperature drop does not, by itself, indicate a cold wave. The immediate weather concerns are continued precipitation, thunderstorms, gusty winds and the possibility of isolated hailstorms.
Pahalgam recorded a maximum temperature of 14.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, which was 5.4 degrees below normal. Gulmarg’s maximum temperature stood at 11.8 degrees Celsius. Gulmarg received 8 mm of rainfall, while Kupwara recorded 6 mm.
IMD forecast for October 15, 16 and beyond
The weather in Kashmir comes as the northern plains are also expected to experience thunderstorms and gusty winds. However, snowfall in the western Himalayas does not automatically mean that Delhi-NCR will experience a cold wave. For now, the forecast points to unsettled weather across parts of northern India rather than an immediate, widespread onset of winter.
Travellers planning trips to higher elevations should therefore check the latest weather bulletins before setting out.
