Himalayan Chill Deepens: Sonamarg and Hanle Plunge Below -10°C as Winter Tightens Its Grip Across J&K and Ladakh

SRINAGAR, January 30, 2026: A biting cold wave has firmly entrenched itself across the northern frontiers, sentry-like peaks, and sun-drenched valleys of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, with temperatures plummeting to bone-chilling lows this morning.

The high-altitude meadows of Sonamarg emerged as the frost-bitten heart of the Kashmir region, recording a staggering -10.6°C, while the world-renowned ski resort of Gulmarg shivered at -9.0°C. Even the capital, Srinagar, offered little respite with a minimum of 1.3°C, as surrounding hubs like Pahalgam (-5.3°C) and Kupwara (-3.1°C) faced a relentless freeze.

The atmospheric contrast was stark in the Jammu division; while Jammu city maintained a relatively modest 9.3°C, the high-altitude bypasses of Bhaderwah (-1.0°C) and Banihal (1.1°C) mirrored the valley’s icy temperament.

However, the true epicenter of the arctic blast was found in Ladakh, where the remote outpost of Hanle dipped to a perilous -16.0°C, followed closely by Leh at -10.4°C. As mercury levels continue their downward dance, the region finds itself cocooned in a crystalline winter, with stagnant air and sub-zero nights defining the current Himalayan landscape.