End of Dry Spell, Heavy Snowfall Blankets Jammu & Kashmir
Snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir, symbolic photo- PTI
Key Takeaways
- Fresh snowfall revived tourism across Kashmir’s major hill resorts
- Gulmarg ski resorts expect a surge in tourist arrivals
- Snowfall supports glaciers, water supply, and winter crops
- Another western disturbance may bring widespread snow by year-end
After a prolonged dry phase, the Kashmir Valley has finally witnessed a much-awaited spell of snowfall, bringing cheer to residents, farmers, and the tourism industry alike. The Western Himalayan region had remained largely dry for weeks, barring a brief and moderate snowfall episode on October 6, 2025. Since then, precipitation had been conspicuously absent across Jammu & Kashmir and adjoining areas.
The dry spell came to an end on December 21 and 22, when a moderate to heavy snowfall event covered most popular tourist destinations of Kashmir and parts of Ladakh. The famed tourism “golden triangle” Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonmarg recorded around 5 inches of fresh snow on Sunday, December 21. The fresh snow cover has transformed the landscape, setting the perfect stage for Christmas and New Year celebrations in the Kashmir Valley.
With snowfall reviving winter sports activities, ski resorts in Gulmarg are expected to witness a sharp rise in tourist footfall in the coming days. The increase in visitor numbers will provide a significant boost to the hotel, hospitality, and tourism sectors, which had been anxiously waiting for sustained snowfall to kickstart the peak winter season.
Beyond tourism, snowfall holds critical importance for the region’s ecology and agriculture. Fresh snow helps replenish glaciers, ensures sustained water availability during the summer months, and supports winter crops across the Himalayan belt.
Elsewhere in the Western Himalayas, parts of Himachal Pradesh also received snowfall, though the intensity and spatial spread remained limited. Uttarakhand, however, is still awaiting its first widespread and impactful snowfall of the season.
Looking ahead, weather conditions remain favorable for further activity. Another western disturbance is likely to approach the Western Himalayan region around December 27. This system is expected to bring widespread snowfall across the hills between December 28 and December 31. As a result, the New Year is likely to usher in fresh spells of snow across Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, firmly marking the arrival of peak winter conditions in the Himalayas.
