North India Shivers: Minimum Temperatures Across J&K and Ladakh Today

SRINAGAR/JAMMU /LADAKH– January 17, 2026: Severe cold wave conditions continue to dominate the northernmost regions of India as the winter season reaches its peak.

In the Kashmir Region, freezing temperatures were recorded across all major districts with Shopian leading the chill at -5.6°C, followed closely by Pulwama at -5.3°C, Anantnag at -4.7°C, and Gulmarg and Beerwah both at -4.2°C.

Other significant sub-zero readings include Pampore at -4.0°C, Awantipora and Budgam at -3.8°C, Zethan Rafiabad and Sopore at -3.6°C, Qazigund at -3.4°C, Srinagar and Srinagar Airport at -3.2°C, Bandipora at -3.1°C, Sonamarg at -2.9°C, Pahalgam and Ganderbal at -2.6°C, Kupwara at -2.2°C, Kokernag at -2.0°C, Baramulla at -1.6°C, and Aloosa Bandipora at -1.5°C.

Meanwhile, the Jammu Region experienced varied conditions with Rajouri dipping below freezing at -0.5°C, while other areas stayed slightly warmer including Banihal at 0.6°C, Bhaderwah at 1.5°C, Udhampur at 1.6°C, Reasi at 2.7°C, Jammu Airport at 3.5°C, Kathua at 4.0°C, Jammu city at 4.6°C, Ramban at 5.2°C, Batote at 5.7°C, Doda at 6.6°C, Katra at 7.4°C, and Kishtwar at 7.5°C.

The most extreme conditions were observed in Ladakh, where Drass plummeted to -9.9°C, followed by Hanle at -8.0°C, Leh at -7.0°C, Nyoma at -5.6°C, Kargil at -5.1°C, Padum at -4.3°C, Khaltse at -4.2°C, and Nubra Valley at -2.5°C, reflecting the intense thermal drop across the high-altitude desert.