Early Heavy Snowfall Blankets Kashmir Highlands, Prompting Highway Closure

The higher elevations of Sonamarg, located in Central Kashmir's Ganderbal district, received fresh snowfall on Monday, December 8, 2025. This meteorological event is being closely monitored as it signals a potentially strong start to the region's developing winter tourism season. The early accumulation of substantial snow, following earlier light precipitation, confirms the definitive shift toward the heavier, more characteristic winter snow period for the area.

This development is significant because tourism stakeholders have previously stated that snowfall acts as Kashmir's "biggest advertisement," capable of redirecting focus from security issues toward the region's natural appeal. The precipitation event was accompanied by widespread rainfall across the valley, contributing to a marked drop in ambient temperatures and cementing the seasonal transition. This early weather pattern has generated optimism within the hospitality sector, with hotels in key locations such as Srinagar, Tangmarg, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam already reporting consistent bookings for December and January.

Gulmarg, which hosted over 1.3 million visitors in the preceding year, remains a central destination for international skiers and snow sports enthusiasts from Europe and Central Asia. As a direct result of the fresh snow, authorities temporarily suspended all vehicular traffic on the vital Srinagar–Leh highway on the morning of December 8th. Officials confirmed that snowfall at the Zojila Pass rendered the stretch unsafe for transit, necessitating the halt to prevent potential accidents.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has mobilized resources and initiated intensive snow clearance operations along the Zojila segment to restore connectivity to the Zojila and Thajwas areas, pending weather stabilization. Historically, the Zojila Pass, situated at an elevation of 3,528 meters, is the most challenging section of the Srinagar-Leh highway and typically closes by late November, reopening around mid-April. In a recent measure, the pass remained closed for only 33 days last winter, a reduction from the average closure of 135 days.

This early snow underscores the unpredictable nature of high-altitude weather, even as the Union Territory seeks to recover from a challenging 2025 tourism year that included security incidents such as the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Tourism is the second-largest industry in the Union Territory, contributing approximately ₹8,000 crore to the Gross Domestic Product. Stakeholders, including the President of the Shikara Association, Wali Mohammad, have expressed renewed hope that this early weather event will facilitate a strong winter season, potentially increasing arrivals in the coming weeks.

The Meteorological Department noted that the weather system brought significant precipitation elsewhere; Qazigund recorded the highest rainfall at 25.0 mm, Srinagar received 17.2 mm, and Gulmarg registered 16.4 mm. While the road closure is temporary, authorities have issued advisories for drivers in snow-affected regions, strongly recommending the use of snow chains for grip and urging motorists to postpone non-essential travel until conditions stabilize.