Snowfall ends, sunshine returns to Kashmir
Srinagar, Jan 24: Several parts of Kashmir witnessed fresh overnight snowfall, followed by sunshine breaking through near-clear skies on Saturday morning, bringing temporary relief after days of overcast weather.
In Srinagar, the sun shone brightly over the city, prompting residents to step out and resume their daily activities. “The sun has come out after days of bad weather, and it feels slightly better,” said Sajad Ahmad Dar, a resident of Lal Bazar, adding that the improved weather encouraged people to return to their routines.
Reports from across the Valley indicated clearer skies and improved visibility. In north and south Kashmir, sunshine illuminated the pristine snow, turning many areas into a winter spectacle. Activity also picked up at the Gulmarg ski resort as snow enthusiasts thronged the slopes for skiing and other winter sports.
“Gulmarg has received over three feet of fresh snow, and the resort is now open for skiing and snowboarding,” said Azhar Fayaz Lone, Director of the Gulmarg Adventure Academy.
In south Kashmir, residents also woke up to a bright morning. “After days of overcast skies, it was a sunny day,” said Aabid Hussain, a resident of Kanipoora in Shopian. “I have seen such heavy snowfall after many years. This is the first time since 2020 that the district has received so much snow,” he said. Shopian received an additional two to three inches of snowfall overnight, taking the cumulative snow depth to over 3.5 feet.
High-altitude areas of Anantnag district also recorded overnight snowfall before weather conditions improved. Tehsildar Larnoo, Syed Muiz, told Greater Kashmir that fresh snowfall was reported from Guridraman, Matihindoo, Chakoora and Gawran, while Sinthan Top also received a fresh spell of snow. The snowfall led to the closure of the Anantnag–Sinthan Top–Kishtwar road and the Garwan–Margan Top–Warwan road.
Despite the sunny spell, Kashmir continued to reel under sub-zero night temperatures. Gulmarg was the coldest place, recording minus 12 degrees Celsius, followed by Sonamarg at minus 10.5 and Zethan Rafiabad at minus 10.9. Pahalgam and Shopian recorded minus 7.6 and minus 7.1 degrees respectively, while Qazigund and Awantipora both settled at minus 4.2. Srinagar recorded a minimum of minus 1.4 degrees, with the airport dipping to minus 3.2, as the cold wave persisted across the Valley.
Meanwhile, officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said another Western Disturbance is likely to approach Jammu and Kashmir between the evening of January 26 and January 27, bringing snowfall accompanied by gusty winds.
They said moderate to heavy snowfall is expected in higher reaches, while the plains are likely to receive rain. However, wind speeds are expected to remain comparatively low, the officials added.
