There has been an extraordinary shift in the weather in the Kashmir Valley. By now, most of the popular tourist destinations, including Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg, should have a good amount of snow accumulating by January. However, this year Gulmarg, Kashmir's winter paradise, is devoid of snow and appears to be dry. While tourists flocking to see the snow are disappointed, experts throw the finger at global warming.
This season, Kashmir Valley is experiencing a dry period with neither rain nor snowfall in the region. Precipitation deficit during December and January, according to the MeT Department, is estimated to reach approximately 75%. Even the slopes of the renowned Gulmarg ski resort appear bare in the absence of snow. “The weather is dry throughout Jammu and Kashmir and during the next one week till 16th to 17th January, the weather is going to be dry. There is no major relief from this dry spell for the next few days. Over the years, the glaciers have shrunk, and this year there has been no snow, and the rate of shrinkage can be rapid due to absence of snowfall. Long term implications of the dry spell could affect groundwater level and horticulture sector too. There is no snow, and it will impact tourism as well,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, Director, MeT, Kashmir.
The worldwide weather has been disrupted and less rain and snowfall has been observed in the Himalayan region, according to meteorologists. This is attributed to the increased sea surface temperatures. There is no snow cover in hill stations like Gulmarg and Pahalgam, which greatly disappoints people visiting these locations. Many of them are already regretting their decision to travel, as they had scheduled their travels in January primarily to see snow and participate in winter sports.
The livelihood of the residents, whose livelihoods depend on tourism, has also begun to be impacted by the dry season. Many visitors are canceling their vacations to Kashmir as a result of the dissatisfaction that is currently being shared on social media. The players in the tourism industry are also hoping and praying for a change in the weather to sustain the surge of visitors.
