Kashmir in grip of cold wave, Pulwama shivers at -5.5°C

The minimum temperature in Kashmir remained below the freezing point as cold conditions persisted across the valley, officials said on Friday (December 12, 2025).

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of -3.6°C on Thursday (December 11, 2025) night, down from the previous night’s -2.9°C, the officials said.

They said the night temperature was 2.4° below the normal for this time of the season.

Qazigund in south Kashmir recorded a low of -2.8°C, while the minimum in north Kashmir’s Kupwara settled at -3.6°C, and Kokernag in south Kashmir registered a low of -0.7°C.

Pahalgam, one of the base camps for the Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, recorded a low of -4.6°C, they said.

The night temperature at the famous ski resort of Gulmarg, in north Kashmir, settled at a low of 0°C.

Pulwama, in south Kashmir, was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir at -5.5°C, while the neighbouring Shopian registered a low of -5°C, the officials said.

The prevailing dry weather in Kashmir valley has led to an increase in ailments like cough and common cold.

The doctors have advised the people, especially the children and elderly, to take precautions and stay indoors.

The meteorological department has said there is a possibility of very light snowfall at isolated higher reaches of north and central Kashmir from December 13 to 17.

It said while the weather is likely to remain partly to generally cloudy on December 18 and 19, there is a possibility of light rain/snow at scattered places of the valley on December 20-21 when ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day harshest winter period sets in.

Shallow to moderate fog is likely to persist at many places in the valley over the coming days, the MeT office added.