Jammu and Kashmir welcomed New Year 2026 under a dramatic winter sky, as rainfall in Jammu and fresh snowfall in Kashmir added a chilly charm to the celebrations. Several higher reaches of the Union Territory were blanketed in snow, while the plains of Jammu, including the City of Temples, woke up to steady rain instead of the usual New Year sunshine.

According to the Meteorological Department, light to moderate rain and snowfall are likely to continue at most places over the next 24 hours. Officials said weather conditions are expected to gradually improve later in the day as the prevailing western disturbance begins to move away.

In the Kashmir Valley, the New Year was ushered in with fresh snowfall at popular tourist destinations such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, attracting large numbers of tourists and revellers. The overnight snowfall continued till Thursday morning, enhancing the winter appeal of these hill resorts.

Several higher-altitude areas also received fresh snow, including Tulail Valley in Gurez, Razdan Top in Bandipora, Macchil and Sadhna Top in Kupwara, and the strategic Zojila Pass, officials confirmed.

Weather experts said there is still a possibility of light rain or snow showers in isolated areas by Friday, though overall conditions are likely to improve by evening. Due to persistent cloud cover, night temperatures remained higher than normal, staying above the freezing point at most locations.

Despite the snowfall, Kashmir is witnessing an unusually warm winter this season. Officials noted that temperatures across the valley are hovering 1.2 to 6.3 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 2.2 degrees Celsius on Wednesday night, which is 4.6 degrees above normal for this time of the year.

Gulmarg remained the coldest place in the region, with the mercury dropping to minus 5.5 degrees Celsius, while in south Kashmir, Pahalgam recorded a minimum of minus 0.4 degrees Celsius, significantly above the seasonal norm. Qazigund, the gateway town of the valley, registered a low of 2 degrees Celsius, about five degrees above average.

The region is currently observing ‘Chilla-e-Kalan’, the harsh 40-day winter phase when extreme cold and heavy snowfall are usually at their peak. However, meteorological data shows a clear deviation from traditional weather patterns, as the plains of Kashmir have yet to receive snowfall this winter.