METEOROLOGICAL GAZETTEER & ALPINE RECONNAISSANCE

J&K Weather & Seasonal Climate Gazetteer

Documented climatological reference across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh: 40-day Chillai Kalan winter cycles, 20-district temperature normals, alpine snowfall calendars, and mountain pass accessibility windows.

Active Regional Station Telemetry

Synchronizing station feed...
Srinagar (Valley) 🌤️
20°C Mainly Clear
Elevation: 1,585 m • IMD Station Nowgam / Rambagh
Jammu (Tawi Plain) ☀️
28°C Clear Sky
Elevation: 305 m • IMD Station RS Pura Road
Leh (Ladakh Plateau) ☀️
5°C Clear Sky
Elevation: 3,524 m • IMD Station Skara
Gulmarg (High Alpine) ❄️
8°C Alpine Chill
Elevation: 2,690 m • Apharwat Base Observatory
Observed Telemetry Source: India Meteorological Department (IMD) Ground Stations & Terrestrial Climatology Model. mausam.imd.gov.in Direct Radar ↗

Official Meteorological Portals & Station Advisories

For authoritative short-range forecasts, nowcasts, doppler weather radar imagery, and severe weather warnings across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, consult the official meteorological stations directly:

📡 IMD Meteorological Centre Srinagar ↗ 📡 IMD Meteorological Centre Jammu ↗ 🛣️ NH-44 Highway Traffic & Weather Radar 🚔 J&K Traffic Police Live Advisories ↗
Station Contact Desks (Official Reference):
• IMD Srinagar MC: Rambagh / Nowgam, Srinagar — Direct Met Office: 0194-2430182 / 0194-2464481
• IMD Jammu MC: RS Pura Road, Jammu Civil Enclave — Direct Met Office: 0191-2579111 / 0191-2579112
• Traffic Control Units (TCU): TCU Ramban: 9419993745 | TCU Jammu: 0191-2459048 | TCU Srinagar: 0194-2450022

Kashmir's Chillai — The Three Traditional Phases of Winter

In Kashmir's indigenous climatology, the 70 coldest winter days are partitioned into three distinct phases known as Chillai (derived from Persian chehel, meaning forty). Rooted in centuries of agrarian and social adaptation, these periods govern heating practices (kangri and hamam), winter food preservation, and mountain pass closures across the Pir Panjal and Great Himalayan ranges.

PHASE I • 40 NIGHTS ❄️

Chillai Kalan (چلہ کلاں)

December 21 — January 31 (40 Days)

The "Great Cold" represents the zenith of Himalayan sub-zero severity. Sub-zero temperatures freeze Dal Lake's shoreline lagoons, household water conduits, and river cascades. The heaviest snowfall occurs during this phase under the influence of active Western Disturbances, cutting off remote valleys like Gurez, Machail, and Karnah while depositing powder snow across the Gulmarg ski basin.

🌡️ Srinagar Jan Night Normal: −4°C to −8°C (record: −14.4°C in 1893)
🌡️ Gulmarg Alpine Range: −10°C to −18°C (heavy sub-zero snowpack)
❄️ Environmental Marker: Thick icicles (shishur gaant) form on roofs
PHASE II • 20 DAYS 🌨️

Chillai Khurd (چلہ خورد)

February 1 — February 19 (20 Days)

The "Small Cold" marks twenty days where sub-zero conditions begin a gradual moderation. Snowfall continues intermittently at medium altitudes and remains heavy on ski ridges. The valley floor sees daytime sunshine thawing thin surface ice, though night frost remains sharp. Prime period for backcountry skiing and snowboard touring at Apharwat.

🌡️ Srinagar Feb Night Normal: −2°C to +2°C
🌡️ Gulmarg Alpine Range: −6°C to −12°C
⛷️ Ski Condition: Deep powder base for international ski runs
PHASE III • 10 DAYS 🌸

Chillai Bachha (چلہ بچہ)

February 20 — March 2 (10 Days)

The "Baby Cold" constitutes the closing ten-day transition of Kashmir's winter. Severe frost releases its grip, daylight lengthens distinctly, and valley soils begin warming. Valley orchards witness the earliest almond buds swell at Badamwari in Srinagar, heralding preparations for Nowruz and springtime agricultural tillage across South and Central Kashmir.

🌡️ Srinagar Late Feb Normal: +1°C to +6°C (nights), +12°C (days)
🌸 Agrarian Signal: Almond blossoms open in Badamwari gardens
🏔️ High Pass Status: Snow clearance operations commence by BRO

Four-Season Climate Regimes & Travel Calendar

MAY – AUGUST

Summer (Grishm)

Pleasant temperate climate in Kashmir Valley (20°C to 30°C days) contrasting with sub-tropical heat in Jammu plains (38°C to 44°C). Dal Lake houseboats, Dachigam trout streams, and Sonamarg alpine meadows are at their prime. Prime season for Kashmir Great Lakes Trek and Zanskar expedition routes.

Srinagar: 20–30°C • Jammu: 38–44°C • Gulmarg: 14–22°C
SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER

Autumn (Harud)

The famed "Golden Season" of Kashmir. Chinar leaves blaze in scarlet and gold across Nishat and Shalimar gardens. Purple saffron blossoms blanket Pampore fields in late October. Crisp dry air, minimal rainfall, and crystal reflections across Wular and Dal lakes create prime photographic conditions.

Srinagar: 8–20°C • Gulmarg: 2–12°C • Pampore Saffron: Oct–Nov
DECEMBER – FEBRUARY

Winter (Wandh)

Sub-zero conditions across Kashmir and high-altitude Jammu uplands. World-class heli-skiing and gondola operations at Gulmarg. Jammu plains remain pleasant (8°C to 20°C), hosting peak winter pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi. Trans-Himalayan Ladakh experiences extreme cold (−20°C to −30°C).

Srinagar: −6 to +6°C • Gulmarg: −16 to −4°C • Ladakh: −30°C
MARCH – APRIL

Spring (Sont)

Floral explosion across the valley. Asia's largest tulip garden (Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden on Dal Lake) opens with over 1.5 million blooms in April. Mountain snowpack melts into turbulent white-water rapids along the Lidder and Sindh rivers. High-altitude highway passes are reopened.

Srinagar: 10–22°C • Tulip Garden: April • Passes open: April–May

20-District Climatological Normals & Altitude Reference

Source: India Meteorological Department (IMD) Climatological Baseline (1981–2010 / 1991–2020 normals) & Survey of India Elevations.

Covering all 20 Administrative Districts of J&K + Major Alpine & Ladakh Stations
District / Station Division Altitude (m / ft) Winter Min (Jan Normal) Summer Max (Jul Normal) Annual Precip / Snowfall Optimal Visiting Window
Srinagar (HQ) Kashmir 1,585 m (5,200 ft) −4°C to −6°C 31.0°C 710 mm (100–120 cm snow) April — October
Baramulla Kashmir 1,595 m (5,233 ft) −5°C 31.5°C 860 mm (120–150 cm snow) April — October
Anantnag Kashmir 1,600 m (5,250 ft) −6°C 30.2°C 790 mm (130–160 cm snow) April — October
Pulwama Kashmir 1,630 m (5,348 ft) −5°C 30.0°C 730 mm (110–130 cm snow) May — October
Budgam Kashmir 1,610 m (5,282 ft) −5°C 30.5°C 740 mm (110–140 cm snow) April — October
Kupwara Kashmir 1,600 m (5,250 ft) −7°C 32.0°C 980 mm (150–200 cm snow) May — September
Ganderbal Kashmir 1,619 m (5,312 ft) −6°C 30.0°C 820 mm (140–180 cm snow) May — October
Bandipora Kashmir 1,578 m (5,177 ft) −5°C 31.0°C 850 mm (130–170 cm snow) April — October
Kulgam Kashmir 1,739 m (5,705 ft) −6°C 29.5°C 880 mm (140–180 cm snow) May — October
Shopian Kashmir 2,057 m (6,749 ft) −8°C 27.5°C 950 mm (180–240 cm snow) May — October
Gulmarg Ski Resort Baramulla (Kashmir) 2,690 m (8,825 ft) −14°C 20.5°C 1,350 mm (400–500 cm heavy snow) Dec–Mar (Ski) • Jun–Sep (Trek)
Sonamarg Alpine Basin Ganderbal (Kashmir) 2,740 m (8,990 ft) −15°C 22.0°C 1,200 mm (350+ cm heavy snow) May — October (Road open)
Pahalgam Valley Anantnag (Kashmir) 2,130 m (6,990 ft) −10°C 26.0°C 1,050 mm (200–250 cm snow) Apr–Oct (Amarnath Jul–Aug)
Jammu City (Winter HQ) Jammu 305 m (1,000 ft) +6.2°C 43.8°C 1,120 mm (Subtropical monsoon) October — March
Udhampur Jammu 756 m (2,480 ft) +4.0°C 38.5°C 1,380 mm (Snow at Patnitop 100cm) October — April
Kathua Jammu 307 m (1,007 ft) +6.5°C 43.0°C 1,300 mm (Subtropical plains) October — March
Samba Jammu 384 m (1,260 ft) +6.0°C 43.5°C 1,050 mm (Subtropical semi-arid) October — March
Reasi (Katra) Jammu 466 m (1,529 ft) +5.0°C 40.0°C 1,450 mm (Vaishno Devi foothills) September — April
Rajouri Jammu 915 m (3,002 ft) +3.0°C 36.5°C 1,150 mm (Pir Panjal sub-montane) October — April
Poonch Jammu 981 m (3,219 ft) +2.0°C 35.0°C 1,250 mm (Suran river corridor) October — May
Doda (Bhaderwah) Jammu 1,109 m (3,638 ft) +1.0°C 34.0°C 920 mm (Snow in Bhaderwah 150cm) April — October
Ramban (NH-44 Corridor) Jammu 1,156 m (3,793 ft) +2.5°C 34.5°C 1,080 mm (Chenab gorge terrain) October — April
Kishtwar Jammu 1,680 m (5,512 ft) −4.0°C 30.0°C 880 mm (Snow in Paddar 180cm) May — September
Leh (Ladakh UT) Ladakh 3,524 m (11,562 ft) −20°C to −24°C 27.0°C 102 mm (Cold desert rain shadow) June — September
Kargil (Drass Sector) Ladakh 2,676 m (8,780 ft) −18°C to −22°C 34.0°C 260 mm (Drass reaches −45°C) May — September

Meteorological Alert Color Codes & Safety Protocol

IMD weather alerts define atmospheric hazard severity. Administrative closures of highways (NH-44) and educational institutions are enacted independently by the J&K Traffic Police and Divisional Administration based on on-ground ground assessments.

[TAKE ACTION] RED ALERT

Extremely Severe Weather Warning

IMD Meteorological Meaning: Take immediate action to protect life and property. High probability of extreme blizzard, avalanche danger (DGRE Warning), cloudburst, or destructive windstorm.

  • Refrain completely from non-essential highway journeys
  • Expect temporary administrative closure of NH-44 and passes
  • Monitor J&K Traffic Police helpline: 0194-2450022
[BE PREPARED] ORANGE ALERT

Severe Weather Advisory

IMD Meteorological Meaning: Be prepared. High confidence of heavy snow or rainfall, widespread dense fog, cold waves, or transport disruptions across high corridors.

  • Carry snow chains on mountain climbs (Gulmarg/Sonamarg)
  • Verify flight status before traveling to Srinagar Airport (SXR)
  • Keep emergency medical supplies and power reserves
[BE AWARE] YELLOW WATCH

Weather Watch Notification

IMD Meteorological Meaning: Be aware. Moderate meteorological event expected. Road surfaces may become slippery due to wet snow or light frost.

  • Moderate speed; ensure functional fog lamps and wiper fluid
  • Fresh powder updates at Gulmarg (ski alert)
  • Check updated bulletins every 6 hours via IMD website
[NORMAL] GREEN ADVISORY

No Warning / Fair Climatology

IMD Meteorological Meaning: No adverse meteorological warning in place. Clear to partly cloudy skies with standard seasonal temperatures.

  • Regular civilian transport and flight schedules operative
  • Ideal conditions for trekking, gondola rides, and garden visits
  • Verify local evening temperatures for appropriate layering

Strategic Mountain Passes — Verified BRO Elevations & Windows

Maintained by Border Roads Organisation (BRO Projects Beacon, Sampark, Himank, Vijayak). Pass opening dates vary each year based on cumulative winter snowfall.

Source: BRO Official Bulletins & Highway Telemetry
Pass / Tunnel Verified BRO Elevation Route & Highway Managing BRO Project Typical Operational Window Winter Closure Cycle
Zoji La 3,528 m (11,575 ft) Srinagar – Kargil – Leh (NH-1) Project Beacon / Vijayak May — December Typically Jan — April (cleared as early as March in modern seasons)
Banihal (Nav-Yug & Jawahar Tunnels) 1,790 m (5,873 ft) / 2,194 m (7,198 ft) Jammu – Srinagar (NH-44) NHAI / BRO Sampark Year-round Expressway tunnel operates year-round; sporadic delays during shooting stones
Sinthan Top 3,748 m (12,297 ft) Anantnag (Kashmir) – Kishtwar (Jammu) National Highway / PWD May/June — October November — May (heavy Pir Panjal snow crest)
Mughal Road (Peer Ki Gali) 3,490 m (11,450 ft) Shopian (Kashmir) – Bafliaz / Poonch Mechanical Engineering Dept J&K May — November December — April (accumulates up to 3–4 meters of snow)
Razdan Pass 3,558 m (11,672 ft) Bandipora – Gurez Valley Project Beacon May/June — November December — May (high avalanche frequency; snow clearance prioritised by BRO)
Khardung La 5,359 m (17,582 ft) Leh – Nubra Valley (Ladakh) Project Himank Kept Open Year-Round Kept open year-round for defense logistics; temporary 24–48 hr closures during blizzards
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