Srinagar welcomes first snowfall of the season, blankets Valley white

Breaking a prolonged dry spell, Srinagar and other areas in the plains of Kashmir received the season's first snowfall on Friday, draping the valley in white and bringing cheer to locals and tourists alike. Under the influence of a western disturbance, light to moderate snowfall was recorded in most areas of Kashmir, including the plains, officials said.The snowfall began in the higher reaches in the morning, while the plains, including Srinagar, witnessed snowfall later in the afternoon, they said.
The season’s first snowfall was also recorded in several plains of south Kashmir, including Bijbehara, Shopian, Kulgam, parts of Pulwama, Qazigund, Baramulla, and other regions across the Valley on Friday.Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a post on X, shared his experience of traveling from Jammu to Srinagar on Friday.

I drove from Jammu to Srinagar today. It snowed continuously from Banihal to Srinagar. The conditions were quite treacherous. I understand there are around 2000 vehicles stuck between the tunnel & Qazigund. My office has been in touch with the administration in South Kashmir.… pic.twitter.com/i8JOUDt4Fr

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 27, 2024

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of MeT Srinagar, confirmed that widespread light to moderate snowfall had been predicted for the Valley, with heavy snowfall in higher reaches. “On Saturday, there is a possibility of intermittent light rain and snowfall in some places, with gradual improvement thereafter. No significant weather activity is expected until December 31. A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect Jammu and Kashmir and surrounding areas from January 1 to 3,” he said.
While the railway connectivity remained normal from Baramulla to Banihal section. However, passengers were cautioned about possible delays attributed to adverse weather conditions. The railway authorities appealed for cooperation to ensure smoother journeys.