Kashmir Snowfall: Season's First Snow Blankets Tourist Destinations

Current Weather Conditions

Kashmir snowfall has transformed the valley into a winter wonderland on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, with fresh snow blanketing major tourist destinations and higher reaches. The weather in Jammu & Kashmir shows a dramatic temperature plunge, with Srinagar recording 12°C at 12:53 PM, feeling like 57°F with 77% humidity and cloudy conditions. The Kashmir temperature has dropped 13 degrees below normal, with maximum temperatures reaching only 12.5°C on Monday compared to the usual 25.5°C.

Srinagar weather features overcast skies with light rain showers continuing through the day, with temperatures ranging from 45°F minimum to 60°F maximum (7°C-15°C). Current atmospheric pressure stands at 30.03 inches with southeasterly winds at 5 mph and 68% cloud cover.

Major Snowfall Areas

Snowfall in Kashmir has covered all major tourist destinations, with Gulmarg recording the heaviest accumulation at 4.4°C maximum temperature. The season's first snowfall has blanketed:

Prime Tourist Destinations:

• Gulmarg: Heavy snowfall with sub-zero overnight temperatures

• Pahalgam: Fresh snow covering the entire resort area

• Sonamarg: Significant accumulation disrupting travel

• Aru Valley and Chandanwari: Complete white blanket

• Kokernag: Moderate snowfall with travel advisories issued

High-Altitude Passes:

• Peer Ki Gali on Mughal Road: Road closure due to heavy snow

• Zojila Pass on Srinagar-Leh Highway: Traffic suspension implemented

• Sinthan Top in Anantnag: Fresh snowfall reported

• Affarwat in Gulmarg: Significant accumulation

• Razdan Pass in Gurez Valley: Gateway covered in pristine snow

Transportation and Infrastructure Impact

Kashmir weather forecast shows widespread road closures and transportation disruptions affecting key routes. The Srinagar-Leh National Highway remains closed due to snowfall at Zojila Pass, while Mughal Road has been suspended following heavy accumulation at Peer Ki Gali.

School Closures and Safety Measures:

• All schools in the Jammu division closed for two days following the IMD forecast

• Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra suspended until October 8 due to hazardous trail conditions

• Farmers advised to suspend agricultural activities on October 6-7 due to adverse weather

• Emergency preparedness is activated with disaster management on high alert

IMD Weather Alerts and Warnings

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a strong western disturbance continues to influence weather conditions across Jammu and Kashmir, bringing widespread light to moderate rain and snowfall through Tuesday afternoon. The peak activity was recorded between October 5 night and October 7 morning, after which a gradual improvement is expected. The IMD forecast highlights heavy snowfall over higher reaches such as Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and passes above 3,000 meters, while middle-altitude areas between 2,000 and 3,000 meters are likely to receive light snow. Meanwhile, the Kashmir plains can expect moderate to heavy rainfall with isolated very heavy spells in certain regions. Additionally, the system may produce thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds ranging between 30 and 40 kmph, particularly during periods of active precipitation.

Weekly Weather Outlook

Kashmir weekly weather prediction shows significant improvement beginning Wednesday:

• October 7 (Tuesday): Light rain showers continuing with 60°F high, 45°F low, and 78% precipitation probability

• October 8 (Wednesday): Scattered clouds with sprinkles - temperatures improving to 66°F high, 43°F low with 48% rain chance

• October 9 (Thursday): Mostly sunny conditions returning with 69°F high, 40°F low, and only 5% precipitation probability

• October 10-20: Sunny weather establishing with temperatures gradually rising to 71-73°F highs and 38-47°F lows