The prolonged dry spell in Kashmir is likely to end as the region prepares for Chille Kalan. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts snowfall in higher reaches and rain in the plains after nearly two weeks of dry weather. Weather conditions are expected to change from December 18 to 19, bringing partly to generally cloudy skies.
An official from the Meteorological Department stated that residents might experience very light snowfall at isolated higher reaches of North and Central Kashmir. The active western disturbance is predicted to influence the area from late night of December 20 to December 21, resulting in light to moderate snowfall in higher altitudes and light to moderate rain in many areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
The forecast anticipates that the weather on December 22 will remain generally cloudy, with light rain or snowfall scattered across the region. From December 23 to 29, the skies may be partly to generally cloudy, while December 30 and 31 could bring the possibility of light snowfall at isolated higher reaches.
In light of the potential weather changes, the MeT Department has issued a snowfall advisory, predicting that significant snowfall may impact higher reaches of Kupwara, Bandipora, and Ganderbal districts, especially on December 21. The department has urged travelers and transporters to plan their journeys carefully, adhering to traffic and administrative advisories.
As this weather pattern approaches, it’s noteworthy that temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir have remained above normal. In Srinagar, the maximum temperature recorded was 10.6°C, approximately 1.2°C above average, while the minimum temperature settled at 0.2°C. The famous tourist destination, Gulmarg, recorded a maximum of 8.8°C, nearly 4°C above normal, and a minimum of 1.6°C.
In northern Kashmir, Kupwara registered a maximum of 10.8°C and minimum of -1.0°C. Nearby, Pahalgam noted 11.2°C and 0.4°C, while Qazigund recorded 13.0°C and 0.8°C.
In the Jammu region, Jammu city saw higher temperatures with a maximum of 22.3°C and minimum of 11.0°C. However, the MeT Department did confirm that no rainfall has been recorded across any station in the past 24 hours.
