Winter has officially arrived in Kashmir, with the popular tourist destination of Gulmarg experiencing its first snowfall of the season on October 6th. According to reports, the higher areas of Kashmir received 2 to 3 inches of snow in the second phase of Gulmarg, while light snow was also observed at Razdan Pass in North Kashmir’s Gurez.
Despite this initial snowfall, the weather forecast for the next ten days predicts dry conditions across the region. While no specific warnings have been issued until October 10th, independent forecasters expect a slight chance of brief showers in some areas on October 7th and 8th. Dry conditions are expected to persist until at least October 14th, offering a window of clear weather for visitors.
However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that India could be facing a harsh winter due to the emergence of La Nina conditions by October-November. These conditions could bring severe cold waves to northwest and central India. The IMD has assigned a 71 percent chance to the development of La Nina by October-November.
While Kashmir anticipates dry days, other parts of India are preparing for heavy rainfall. The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rains over Kerala and Mahe from October 6th to 12th. Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal are expected to experience heavy rains from October 7th to 11th. South Interior Karnataka is also forecasted to receive heavy rainfall from October 6th to 8th.
In Northeast India, heavy rains are predicted over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura on October 7th. Meanwhile, Northwest, West, and Central India are expected to remain largely dry for the next week.
