Kashmir woke up to a gentle but refreshing shift in weather on Monday as overcast skies eased the ongoing cold wave across the valley. According to officials, several higher reaches received a light blanket of fresh snowfall, giving the region a serene winter makeover.
One of the first places to witness the new snow was the Minimarg area near the iconic Zojila Pass along the Srinagar–Kargil road, where a delicate spell of flakes settled quietly overnight.
The cloud cover that stretched across the valley played a key role in slightly lifting temperatures. Officials confirmed that most areas saw an increase of about two degrees in the minimum temperature — a welcome pause in the severe chill.
In Srinagar, the night temperature rose to –1.9°C, a notable jump from –4.4°C the previous night. However, Baramulla remained the coldest spot in the valley at –4.7°C, continuing to hold the title of Kashmir’s icebox for the day.
Other key regions also saw moderate improvements:
-
Qazigund recorded –1.0°C
-
Kupwara settled at –3.2°C
-
Kokernag saw a surprisingly milder 0.2°C
-
Pahalgam, a favorite among tourists, noted –0.4°C, warming up by more than five degrees compared to the previous night
-
Gulmarg, the famed skiing destination, registered 0.3°C, rising by two degrees in the last 24 hours
While the valley continues to move deeper into winter, the slight rise in temperature — paired with the first fresh snowfall in certain pockets — brought a momentary sigh of relief, a reminder that even in the coldest seasons, Kashmir carries its own quiet warmth.
