Foggy conditions persist in Valley amid light snow forecast

Irfan Yattoo
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13 Dec 2025

Srinagar, Dec 13: Kashmir witnessed a slight respite from the prevailing cold conditions as minimum temperatures rose marginally across the valley due to overcast skies, even as the Meteorological Department forecast light snowfall at isolated places in the higher reaches, officials said on Saturday. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.9 degrees Celsius on Friday night, an improvement from minus 3.6 degrees Celsius the previous night. However, the temperature remained 1.7 degrees below the seasonal average, officials said. A thick layer of fog enveloped Srinagar and several other parts of the valley, particularly areas around water bodies, reducing visibility during the night and early morning hours, according to the Met department. In south Kashmir, Qazigund registered a minimum temperature of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag recorded a low of 0.1 degrees Celsius. In north Kashmir, Kupwara settled at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius. Kokernag and Gulmarg were the only places in the valley where night temperatures stayed above the freezing point. Gulmarg, the famous ski resort in north Kashmir, recorded a low of 1.6 degrees Celsius, up from zero degrees Celsius a day earlier, the weather office said. Pahalgam, a key base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, logged a minimum of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, improving from minus 4.6 degrees Celsius the previous night. Pulwama in south Kashmir emerged as the coldest place in Jammu and Kashmir, registering a low of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, while neighbouring Shopian recorded minus 3.7 degrees Celsius, officials added. Kashmir is gradually approaching ‘Chillai Kalan’, the harshest 40-day winter period, which begins on December 21. This phase is marked by severe cold conditions and the highest likelihood of snowfall across the valley. So far, the winter season has remained largely dry, with no major wet spell recorded. The prolonged dry weather has reportedly contributed to an increase in ailments such as coughs and common colds. Doctors have advised people, particularly children and the elderly, to take necessary precautions and limit exposure to cold conditions. The Meteorological Department has forecast the possibility of very light snowfall at isolated higher reaches of north and central Kashmir between December 13 and 17. Director MeT Dr Mukhtar soad that weather conditions are expected to remain partly to generally cloudy on December 18 and 19, while light rain or snowfall at scattered places is likely on December 20 and 21, coinciding with the onset of ‘Chillai Kalan’. The Met department also warned that shallow to moderate fog is likely to persist at many places across the valley over the coming days.