Srinagar donned a fresh blanket of snow today, as a western disturbance ushered in a wintry spell across Jammu and Kashmir’s summer capital. By early morning, Border Roads Organisation teams started clearing the Srinagar airport runway, signaling a noticeable accumulation—likely light to moderate, though precise measurements remain pending.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted this, forecasting cloudy skies and light snow for Kashmir’s plains in its 9 AM IST bulletin on Thursday. Temperatures in Srinagar, dipping near 0°C overnight from Thursday’s 5°C high, set the stage for the flakes. Higher altitudes like Gulmarg and Sonmarg probably caught heavier loads—past events, like December 27, 2024’s first seasonal snow, saw Gulmarg pile up 5-6 inches.

This marks Srinagar’s third notable snowfall this winter, following December 27 and a heftier dump on February 4. After a 50-day dry stretch ending November 11, these bouts are a boon for farmers banking on snowmelt and tourists lured by Dal Lake’s frozen allure or Gulmarg’s ski runs. Videos on social media today showed snow-dusted streets, with locals and visitors savoring the chill.

No major hiccups were reported by 2:53 PM IST, though road crews are tackling icy patches to keep routes like the Srinagar-Jammu highway open. The IMD hints at more snow into Saturday, suggesting the valley’s winter charm isn’t fading yet. Pic Credit PTI.