📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Akigupta131
Weather
Snowfall blankets Kashmir and Himachal as monsoon retreats
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🗓 19 Sep 2026, 10:32 AM
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Snowfall began across the Kashmir valley and parts of Himachal Pradesh as the southwest monsoon started to withdraw from north‑India.
Snowfall started to coat the higher reaches of the Kashmir valley early on Thursday, with snow accumulations reported in Srinagar and surrounding districts. The cold spell quickly moved westward into Himachal Pradesh, where hill stations such as Shimla and Manali experienced light to moderate snowfall, disrupting local traffic and outdoor activities.
Meteorologists said the snowfall coincided with the early retreat of the southwest monsoon, which has been withdrawing from the northern sub‑continent after a prolonged wet spell. The transition is typical for the season, but the rapid onset of snow in these regions has caught commuters off‑guard.
Authorities in both states have issued advisories urging residents to avoid non‑essential travel, especially on mountain roads prone to ice. Schools in affected districts have been temporarily closed, and power utilities are on standby to address any outages caused by the cold weather.
The weather department will continue to monitor the situation and expects the snow to subside by the weekend as temperatures gradually rise, while the monsoon remains largely absent from the north for the next few weeks.
Meteorologists said the snowfall coincided with the early retreat of the southwest monsoon, which has been withdrawing from the northern sub‑continent after a prolonged wet spell. The transition is typical for the season, but the rapid onset of snow in these regions has caught commuters off‑guard.
Authorities in both states have issued advisories urging residents to avoid non‑essential travel, especially on mountain roads prone to ice. Schools in affected districts have been temporarily closed, and power utilities are on standby to address any outages caused by the cold weather.
The weather department will continue to monitor the situation and expects the snow to subside by the weekend as temperatures gradually rise, while the monsoon remains largely absent from the north for the next few weeks.