After over two months without any precipitation, the higher areas of Kashmir Valley finally experienced light snowfall on Sunday. Both locals and visitors were really happy with this. The snowfall was welcomed by visitors to the Gulmarg ski resort, who played in the snow to express their joy and capture special moments. There was light to moderate snowfall in many parts of popular tourist sites like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Doodhpathri, Tangmarg, Gurez Valley, Tragbal in Bandipora, and Kernah in Kupwara. There was also some light rain in the areas surrounding Srinagar.
Reports of light rains started to surface from the Kashmir Valley. Over the next 24 hours, Jammu and Kashmir should have light to moderate rain and snowfall, according to the Srinagar Meteorological Center. The new layer of snow that has fallen in Gulmarg has given the winter tourism sector in Kashmir new vitality. For tourism stakeholders, hotel owners, and travel agencies, the immaculate white cover has come to represent hope, and they are now eagerly awaiting a return of happiness following a protracted dry period.
The lack of snow had an adverse effect on Gulmarg's and other locations' winter tourism. Major skiing events were disrupted by the lack of snow, and seasonal courses offered by different educational institutions in the area were also impacted. There was a noticeable decline in hotel occupancy, and many cancellations were noted. Still, stakeholders in the tourism industry have hope again because of the recent snowfall.
Travel sector participants anticipate full hotel occupancy in the upcoming weeks, particularly in Gulmarg. A two-month dry drought in Kashmir came to an end on Friday as snow fell in the higher regions of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Zojila Pass, Sinthan Pass, and Pir ki Gali on the Mughal Road.
According to the Meteorological Department's prognosis, January 27 will likely be partly to mostly cloudy, with the chance of light snow at a few isolated higher elevations late in the evening. The prediction was for gloomy weather on January 28 and 29. The Meteorological Department's outlook for the next few days for January 30-31 shows the likelihood of light to moderate rain/snow at various sites. This is followed by a sustained possibility of similar precipitation from February 1-3 at numerous locations.
