Kashmir Freezes As Gulmarg Hits Season Low Of Minus 8.8°C, Residents Brace For Harsh Cold

Kashmir is deep in the grip of winter, and the chill has tightened its hold even further. Officials confirmed that the world-famous ski destination of Gulmarg recorded the coldest night of the season so far, with temperatures plunging to a biting minus 8.8°C. The drop followed fresh snowfall on Sunday, transforming the slopes into a picture-perfect winter scene — even as the cold seeped deeper into daily life.

For the past two nights, Gulmarg had already been braving temperatures of minus 6.5°C, but the fresh dip has made this winter particularly unforgiving. Srinagar, too, felt the pinch as the night temperature slipped to minus 3.6°C, compared to minus 3.2°C on the previous night.

In south Kashmir, Pahalgam recorded a minimum of minus 4.8°C, while Qazigund — considered the gateway to the Valley — settled at minus 2.0°C. Kokernag experienced a low of minus 1.2°C, and Kupwara in the north registered minus 1.8°C.

These freezing conditions arrive during Chilla-e-Kalan — the harshest 40-day phase of winter in Kashmir, when temperatures routinely plunge below freezing and snowfall becomes more frequent. Yet, despite the cold, the plains of the Valley have not seen snowfall so far this season, leaving many residents hoping for the first flakes while also preparing for the challenges that winter storms can bring.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted light snowfall or rainfall at isolated higher-altitude locations in north and central Kashmir on January 5 and 6 — a sign that winter still has much more to say.

Behind the numbers and forecasts are everyday people — families gathering around traditional heaters, children waking to frosted rooftops, and elders recalling winters of years past. The cold links the community together, reminding everyone of the Valley’s enduring resilience, warmth, and spirit… even when the temperatures fall far below zero.