KASHMIR: The Meteorological Department of the Union Territory (UT) of J&K has forecast generally cloudy weather across all the 20 districts of both the divisions over the next few days. There is a good possibility of rain and snowfall during this period and the prolonged dry weather may end soon, according to the officials. Due to lack of precipitation during October, November and the first three weeks of December, there was concern that water scarcity may be faced in many areas. However, slight drizzle and snowfall over a week ago changed that outlook.
Most hotels in the Kashmir valley are full of snow enthusiasts from plains who rushed after getting forecasts that it may rain and snow on December 30, 31 and January 1. The hill stations in the Jammu division are also seeing large crowds at Kud, Patnitop, Sanasar and most other places like Bhaderwah in Doda district. There is dense fog in most areas of the Jammu division leading to routine cancellations and delay in flights as also train schedules.
Since all educational institutions all over the country are observing winter break at this time, the holiday makers are not fettered by the school going children.
The last three months of the year saw a turnaround in J&K with the tourists thronging places like Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg. The tourist activity had come to a halt after the April 22 Baisaran (Pahalgam) terrorist attack and remained low for almost six months after that fateful day. In October, export of apples from Kashmir valley picked up and that led to the economic activities picking up all over the UT.
For the tourism sector, the year 2025 was a roller coaster ride as lakhs of tourists rushed to the Kashmir valley and destinations in the Jammu region. The hotels were doing roaring business and the charm of the Tulip Garden had led to near full bookings. The heinous terrorist attack at Pahalgam where 24 Hindu tourists were killed after identifying them led to an abrupt end to the tourist season. The hotels saw mass cancellations throwing normal life out of gear. It was a setback like no other for a UT like J&K where tourism is the source of sustenance for a large number of people.
Rains, Snow Bring Cheer
According to the MET Centre at Srinagar, the UT is likely to witness generally cloudy conditions from the night of December 31 till the morning or forenoon of January 1, with light to moderate rain or snowfall expected at most places. Officials said a few higher and extreme higher reaches of north and central Kashmir may receive moderate to heavy snowfall during this period. Higher reaches of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban in the Jammu region have got some snowfall already and more is likely in the coming days.
The terrorist attack, Operation Sindoor, disruption of road and rail traffic adversely affected the flow of pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi for several months and in the year 2025, approximately 65 lakhs visited the shrine. Some years in the recent past had seen this number crossing one crore and even the numbers visiting nearby Shiv Khori shrine crossing 15 lakh.
On January 2, the weather is expected to remain partly to generally cloudy, with the possibility of brief spells of light rain or snowfall at isolated places, the department said. From January 3 to January 5, the weather is likely to remain partly cloudy, while January 6 may see generally cloudy conditions with the possibility of light snowfall over isolated higher reaches of north and central Kashmir.
The forecast further said that weather conditions are expected to remain partly cloudy from January 7 to January 8, partly to generally cloudy on January 9 and 10, and partly cloudy from January 11 to January 13. The department has advised travellers and transporters to follow traffic and administrative advisories during the period.
It also warned of moderate fog over the plains of the Jammu division, with dense fog at isolated places during the next 48 hours.
