Srinagar, Jan 1 — Kashmir welcomed the New Year with fresh snowfall across higher reaches and major tourist destinations, even as the Valley continued to witness an unusually warm spell during the peak winter period of Chilla-e-Kalan, officials said on Thursday.
Popular tourist resorts, including Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, received overnight snowfall that continued into Thursday morning, drawing large numbers of visitors. Snow was also reported from several higher-altitude areas, including the Gurez Valley, Razdan Top in Bandipora, Sadhna Top and Macchil in Kupwara, and the Zojila Pass.
According to official data, snowfall accumulation over the past 48 hours ranged from about two feet at Sadhna Top and Razdan Top to nearly one foot in Gurez Valley and at Zojila Pass. Sonamarg recorded 8 to 10 inches of snow, while Gulmarg received 3 to 4 inches. Chandanwari in Pahalgam saw an accumulation of 2 to 3 inches.
The snowfall began on Wednesday evening under the influence of a western disturbance, officials said.
“There is a possibility of light rain or snow showers in isolated areas as the trailing part of the system moves away by evening, after which the weather is expected to gradually improve,” a Meteorological Department official said, adding that a brief spell of light precipitation could occur at isolated places on Friday.
Despite the fresh snow in the upper reaches, the Valley continues to experience warmer-than-usual winter conditions. Night temperatures across most areas remained above the freezing point due to persistent cloud cover.
Officials said temperatures across Kashmir are currently hovering between 1.2 degrees Celsius and 6.3 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 2.2 degrees Celsius on Wednesday night, about 4.6 degrees above normal.
Gulmarg was the coldest place in the region, recording a low of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius, while south Kashmir’s Pahalgam registered a minimum of minus 0.4 degrees Celsius, around 6.3 degrees above the seasonal average. Qazigund recorded a low of 2 degrees Celsius, nearly five degrees above normal.
The region is presently in Chilla-e-Kalan, a 40-day period traditionally marked by severe cold and frequent snowfall. However, officials noted that while higher reaches have seen snowfall, the plains of the Valley have yet to receive snow this winter, indicating a departure from typical seasonal patterns.