Kashmir is likely to enjoy mostly dry weather until December 28, according to the Meteorological Department. But just as the year draws to a close, the Valley may see a gentle return of winter showers. Officials said on Friday that light snowfall at isolated higher reaches is expected on December 29, with more spells of rain and snow likely between December 30 and January 1.
The plains may see light rainfall during this period, while the upper regions could get a fresh coating of snow, creating the familiar winter charm that Kashmiris know so well.
Cloudy skies through the week helped ease night temperatures across much of the Valley, bringing a small but welcome break from the biting cold of recent days.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 0.2°C, more than two degrees warmer than the minus 2.2°C recorded earlier this week. Sonamarg, however, remained the coldest spot in the region, touching a low of minus 4.7°C, though still warmer than the freezing minus 7.3°C reported previously. Gulmarg followed closely at minus 4.5°C.
In south Kashmir, the tourist town of Pahalgam — also known for serving as a base camp for the Amarnath Yatra — recorded a minimum of minus 1.6°C, up from minus 4.4°C the night before. Qazigund reported 0.2°C, Kokernag 0.8°C and Kupwara minus 2.4°C.
As the year winds down, the people of Kashmir continue to adapt, endure, and embrace the changing moods of winter. For many, the promise of the season’s first snow is not just a weather update — it is a reminder of beauty, resilience, and the quiet strength that defines life in the Valley.
