Srinagar, Nov 24: The Kashmir Valley witnessed its first significant snowfall of the season, blanketing higher altitudes while the plains experienced intermittent rainfall. The weather phenomenon prompted the closure of several strategic routes, including the historic Mughal Road, officials confirmed on Sunday.
The Mughal Road, a vital link between south Kashmir’s Shopian district and the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu division, was shut as a precautionary measure after snowfall accumulated at Peer Ki Gali, a critical point along the route, traffic police said. Similarly, the Gurez-Bandipora road was rendered impassable due to heavy snowfall on Razdan Top, cutting off access to parts of north Kashmir. The Sonamarg-Kargil road also faced closure due to slippery conditions, officials added.
Meanwhile, Gulmarg, the renowned ski resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, transformed into a winter wonderland, much to the delight of tourists. The overnight snowfall left the destination wrapped in a pristine white sheet, marking an exciting start to the winter tourism season.
Snowfall was also reported from other frontier areas, including Karnah in Kupwara district, and Leh in the Union Territory of Ladakh, which received its first snowfall of the season.
Weather-related disruptions aside, the region experienced a drop in temperatures. Barring Kokernag in south Kashmir, most areas recorded daytime temperatures below seasonal norms. Srinagar registered a maximum temperature of 12.3°C, 1.6°C below normal for this time of year. Minimum temperatures across the valley ranged between 2°C and 6°C above average, except in Gulmarg, which recorded a low of -1.5°C, slightly above the seasonal norm.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar, cloudy conditions with sporadic light rain or snow over higher altitudes are expected to persist until the forenoon. However, the weather is forecasted to remain generally dry until the end of November.
Looking ahead, another Western Disturbance is predicted to affect the region starting late November 30. Light rain and snowfall are anticipated over higher altitudes during the night and into December 1. However, the weather is expected to stabilize and remain dry from December 2 to December 5, offering a brief respite from the wintry conditions.
The fresh snowfall has raised hopes among tourism stakeholders and winter sports enthusiasts as the valley gears up for its peak winter season.