Kashmir Freezes as Gulmarg and Sonamarg Subside Below -5°C; Leh Records Season’s Lowest at -10.2°C

SRINAGAR, DECEMBER 25, 2025: Intense cold wave conditions have tightened their grip across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, with minimum temperatures plummeting several degrees below the freezing point in most parts of the valley.

According to the latest data compiled by Kashmir Weather, Sonamarg emerged as the coldest spot in the Kashmir region, recording a bone-chilling -7.3°C, followed closely by the world-famous ski resort of Gulmarg at -5.4°C. In the summer capital, Srinagar, the mercury settled at -2.2°C, while the Srinagar Airport recorded a sharper dip to -3.4°C. Other significant lows in the valley included Pahalgam at -4.4°C, Shopian at -4.0°C, and Pulwama at -3.8°C, indicating a widespread “Chilla-i-Kalan” impact across both North and South Kashmir.

In the Jammu division, while the plains remained relatively warmer, a distinct winter chill was felt as temperatures hovered in the single digits. Jammu city recorded a minimum of 8.1°C, while Samba and Rajouri saw significantly lower readings of 2.9°C and 2.6°C, respectively. The hill station of Bhaderwah narrowly stayed above freezing at 0.3°C, while Katra, the base camp for Vaishno Devi pilgrims, recorded 8.4°C.

Meanwhile, the Union Territory of Ladakh continues to experience extreme arctic conditions. Leh remained the coldest inhabited place in the region with a staggering minimum of -10.2°C, followed by Kargil at -9.8°C and the Nubra Valley at -8.3°C. These freezing conditions have led to the partial freezing of small water bodies and water supply pipes in higher altitudes, with no immediate respite expected in the coming days.