Gulmarg sees rare February heat spike as Kashmir warms
February has felt unusually warm in parts of the Kashmir Valley, almost like early spring. Weather stations have recorded very high daytime temperatures in places that are normally snowy and freezing at this time.
In Gulmarg, the popular ski resort, the maximum temperature reached 11.6°C on February 20, 2026. This was 9.6°C above normal, as per the local India Meteorological Department (IMD) report. In Qazigund, the maximum touched 21.0°C on February 20, 2026, which was 10.9°C above normal. Local reports said this may have broken Qazigund’s earlier February record.
A major reason for this heat is the lack of strong western disturbances. These storm systems usually bring winter rain and snowfall to the western Himalayas. When there are fewer or weaker western disturbances, Kashmir gets drier skies and stronger sunshine, which raises daytime temperatures. One climate study also highlights how important these systems are, saying Kashmir gets a large share of its yearly precipitation from western disturbances.
Dry weather also reduces snowfall and snow cover. Snow normally reflects sunlight. When snow melts or disappears, the darker ground absorbs more heat, which makes days warmer faster, even if nights still stay cold in some places.
IMD’s wider outlook has also pointed to unusual warmth in the western Himalayan region in mid-February, with only a weak western disturbance expected later. Forecasts for Gulmarg and Qazigund also showed mostly clear skies for several days, which supports the idea of “more sun, more heating”.
This warmth can create problems. It can spoil snow conditions for tourism and speed up snowmelt at lower levels. It can also affect the water supply, because winter snow slowly feeds springs and streams into summer. Orchards may also be at risk, because early budding during a warm spell can be damaged if a late cold snap returns.
This February heat seems to be driven by both short-term weather patterns and a longer warming trend. The same Kashmir climate study found that both daytime and nighttime temperatures have been rising over recent decades.
#KashmirValley #Gulmarg #Qazigund #FebruaryHeat #RecordTemperatures #WesternDisturbance #LowSnowfall #Snowmelt #HimalayanWeather #ClimateChange
Gulmarg sees rare February heat spike as Kashmir warms
February has felt unusually warm in parts of the Kashmir Valley, almost like early spring. Weather stations have recorded very high daytime temperatures in places that are normally snowy and freezing at this time.
In Gulmarg, the popular ski resort, the maximum temperature reached 11.6°C on February 20, 2026. This was 9.6°C above normal, as per the local India Meteorological Department (IMD) report. In Qazigund, the maximum touched 21.0°C on February 20, 2026, which was 10.9°C above normal. Local reports said this may have broken Qazigund’s earlier February record.
A major reason for this heat is the lack of strong western disturbances. These storm systems usually bring winter rain and snowfall to the western Himalayas. When there are fewer or weaker western disturbances, Kashmir gets drier skies and stronger sunshine, which raises daytime temperatures. One climate study also highlights how important these systems are, saying Kashmir gets a large share of its yearly precipitation from western disturbances.
Dry weather also reduces snowfall and snow cover. Snow normally reflects sunlight. When snow melts or disappears, the darker ground absorbs more heat, which makes days warmer faster, even if nights still stay cold in some places.
IMD’s wider outlook has also pointed to unusual warmth in the western Himalayan region in mid-February, with only a weak western disturbance expected later. Forecasts for Gulmarg and Qazigund also showed mostly clear skies for several days, which supports the idea of “more sun, more heating”.
This warmth can create problems. It can spoil snow conditions for tourism and speed up snowmelt at lower levels. It can also affect the water supply, because winter snow slowly feeds springs and streams into summer. Orchards may also be at risk, because early budding during a warm spell can be damaged if a late cold snap returns.
This February heat seems to be driven by both short-term weather patterns and a longer warming trend. The same Kashmir climate study found that both daytime and nighttime temperatures have been rising over recent decades.
#KashmirValley #Gulmarg #Qazigund #FebruaryHeat #RecordTemperatures #WesternDisturbance #LowSnowfall #Snowmelt #HimalayanWeather #ClimateChange
