SRINAGAR (KIMS) — The 40-day-long period of harsh winter known as ‘Chillai Kalan’ began on Sunday, bringing rain and snowfall to the Kashmir Valley and ending the long dry spell.
Reports said higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir including Sonamarg, Gulmarg and Peer Ki Gali received light snowfall while rain lashed the plains.
According to the Meteorological (MeT) Department, the weather is expected to remain cloudy on Sunday with the possibility of light to moderate snowfall over higher reaches and light to moderate rain at many places in the plains of Jammu and Kashmir till evening or night.
The department said a few higher reaches of Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts may receive moderate to heavy snowfall, particularly on December 21 and advised travellers and transporters to plan accordingly and follow traffic and administrative advisories.
Cloudy weather with light rain or snow at scattered to fairly widespread places across Jammu and Kashmir is expected on Monday.
From December 23 to 29, the weather is likely to remain partly to generally cloudy across the region. Generally cloudy weather with the possibility of light rain in plains and light snowfall in higher reaches is expected at scattered places on December 30 and 31.
On January 1, 2026 generally cloudy weather with the possibility of light rain or snowfall at scattered places is expected while partly to generally cloudy conditions are likely to prevail on January 2 and 3, the department added.
Meanwhile, the summer capital Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 4.0°C, Qazigund 3.6°C, Kupwara 3.8°C, Pahalgam 2.8°C, Kokernag 3.3°C and Gulmarg minus 1.5°C on Sunday.
The winter capital Jammu recorded 11.5°C, Katra 11.6°C, Batote 7.1°C, Kathua 9.8°C, Banihal 6.0°C and Bhaderwah 5.8°C.
In Ladakh, Leh recorded minus 1.6°C and Kargil minus 0.9°C as the minimum temperature.
‘Chillai Kalan’ which begins on December 21, is followed by a 20-day-long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’. — (KIMS)