The higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley witnessed fresh snowfall today, accompanied by rainfall in the plains, causing a sharp drop in daytime temperatures across the region, with several areas experiencing conditions similar to January.

According to the Meteorological Department, widespread moderate to heavy rain, snowfall, and thunderstorms are expected across Jammu and Kashmir over the next 24 hours, while isolated light rain or thundershowers may occur on October 8.

Officials said that Affarwat in the Gulmarg ski resort of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Sinthan Top in Anantnag district of south Kashmir, Razdan Top in Bandipora district, and Zojila in Ganderbal district were among the areas to receive snowfall. Several plains, including Srinagar city and its adjoining localities, recorded rainfall.

The maximum temperatures recorded today were Srinagar 12.5°C which was 13.0°C below normal; Qazigund 13.5°C, 10.6°C below normal; Pahalgam 9.2°C, 13.2°C below normal; Kupwara 10.8°C, 16.0°C below normal; Kokernag 12.1°C, 11.7°C below normal; and Gulmarg 4.4°C, 12.1°C below normal.

The night temperatures stayed around normal in most parts of Kashmir, while many areas of Jammu recorded 1–5°C below normal.

Gulmarg, the popular tourist destination, recorded 3.0°C night temperature. Daytime temperatures were also below normal, with the Kashmir Division seeing a drop of 2–5°C and the Jammu Division recording 1–6°C lower than average.

The Meteorological Department has issued an advisory urging farmers to suspend all agricultural activities on October 6 and 7, warning of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in the Jammu Division and moderate to heavy rain in parts of the Kashmir Division, accompanied by thunder, lightning, and gusty winds.

The MeT has also cautioned about the risk of landslides and shooting stones at vulnerable locations, along with the possibility of light to moderate snowfall over the higher reaches of the Kashmir Division, Chenab Valley, and Pir Panjal range, and moderate to heavy snowfall over some higher reaches of South Kashmir and Chenab Valley.