Snowless Winter

This winter, plains in Kashmir have so far received no snow. The familiar, picturesque blanket of snow that usually swathes the Valley during the harsh Chilai Kalanis is absent, although high-altitude areas like Gulmarg have witnessed snowfall more than once. But it has been far less than in 2022. Data from the India Meteorological Department shows precipitation of 17.6 mm was recorded in Gulmarg in December 2023 compared with 255.2 mm in 2020, which is a significant drop.

The impact of this uncharacteristically snowless winter extends far beyond aesthetics. The intricate balance of nature in this region heavily depends on the timely replenishment of glaciers. The stark decline in snowfall translates to reduction in the glaciers’ volume, a critical source for the Valley’s rivers and streams. The depletion is a looming crisis for agriculture and horticulture, the lifeblood of Kashmir’s economy.

Scientific voices resonate with concern, attributing this phenomenon to the creeping global climate change. Over the past few decades, the once-reliable snowfall has dwindled significantly. The evidence of glaciers retreating at an alarming rate, exemplified by the Kolahai glacier’s unsettling retreat, starkly illustrates this grim reality.

While the complex nature of Kashmir’s weather system is often cited as a contributing factor, meteorologists highlight the atypical behavior of the western disturbance—a critical source of precipitation—remaining stationed in the North, depriving the Valley of its much-needed snow.

The implications stretch beyond mere inconvenience. The ramifications touch every facet of life in Kashmir. Winter tourism is a critical source of revenue. Thankfully, however, tourism has so far not been impacted. In fact, throngs of visitors continue to arrive in the Valley.  But less snowfall does have an impact. Skiing activities, a cherished attraction, are restricted to higher altitudes due to inadequate snow cover in lower regions.

The snowfall, however, is important not merely for tourism but as a lifeline for the glaciers which keep our rivers and streams flowing and agriculture fields irrigated. High-altitude areas retain their sub-zero temperatures, enabling the snow to endure throughout the year. Kashmir  witnesses its heaviest snow during chilai kalan and the snowfall progressively reduces in February and March when spring sets in. This keeps glaciers replenished. Alarmingly, the experts fear a drastic reduction in snowfall by the century’s end, and this can have horrific consequences not just for Kashmir but the region. 

Here’s hoping that snow does bless the plains in the remaining period of the winter. Snowfall is a boon for tourism and the Valley’s economy. There’s still time for snow as we are only halfway through chillai Kalan.  

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