Kashmir Receives Season’s First Snowfall, Rain and Hail Lash Plains

Srinagar, Sep 5: The higher reaches of Kashmir received the season’s first snowfall on Saturday, while several areas in the plains witnessed brief spells of rain, hail and gusty winds, officials said.

Fresh snowfall was reported from the mountainous areas of Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Gumri, bringing a noticeable change in weather conditions across the Valley’s higher elevations.

Parts of Srinagar and adjoining districts also received rainfall during the morning and afternoon. Hailstorms and gusty winds were reported from some areas, while daytime temperatures dropped by a few degrees following the weather activity.

The weather change comes after the Meteorological Department had forecast a brief spell of showers, with light snowfall possible over the extreme higher reaches. The MeT has indicated the possibility of brief showers on Sunday, while weather is expected to remain generally dry over the following days.

The fresh snowfall has transformed the upper reaches of Kashmir, including the Gulmarg and Sonamarg sectors, into early winter landscapes and is likely to attract the attention of tourists and visitors following the latest weather change.

Authorities and commuters are expected to keep a close watch on conditions along high-altitude routes, particularly around the Gumri and Zojila sectors, where fresh snowfall can affect road conditions if the weather intensifies.