Archive · 8 Jan 2026
J&K and Ladakh Experience Severe Cold Wave
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are experiencing a very cold winter.
The temperature in Srinagar dropped to -5.1°C, which is the lowest this season.
Other places like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg are also very cold, with temperatures below -8°C.
In Ladakh, Drass was the coldest place at -24.7°C.
This is the coldest part of the winter, called Chillai Kalan, which lasts for 40 days.
The weather is expected to stay cold and cloudy until January 20.
People are advised to stay warm and take care of their health during this time.
Srinagar recorded the season's lowest temperature at -5.1°C, with Srinagar Airport at -6.8°C.
Gulmarg and Sonamarg recorded temperatures of -9.2°C and -9.8°C respectively.
Drass in Ladakh was the coldest inhabited place at -24.7°C.
The Kashmir Valley is experiencing Chillai Kalan, the coldest phase of winter.
The Meteorological Department forecasts cold, cloudy, and generally dry conditions till January 20.
- Who
- Residents of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
- What
- Severe cold wave with record low temperatures
- When
- Thursday, January 8
- Where
- Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, India
- Why
- Due to a sharp and sudden drop in temperatures as forecasted by the Meteorological Department
- Srinagar Temperature
- -5.1°C (season's lowest)
- Gulmarg Temperature
- -9.2°C
- Pahalgam Temperature
- -8.6°C
- Shopian Temperature
- -7.8°C
- Pulwama Temperature
- -6.8°C
- Sonamarg Temperature
- -9.8°C (lowest in Kashmir Division)
- Leh Temperature
- -14.6°C
- Kargil Temperature
- -13.4°C
- Drass Temperature
- -24.7°C (coldest inhabited place)
- Nyoma Temperature
- -20.1°C
- Chillai Kalan Duration
- December 21 to January 30
- Forecast Period
- Till January 20
Sources
J&K: Marginal improvement in night temperature, snowfall eludes Valley's plains
Cold conditions persist in Kashmir, Sonamarg coldest place
Mercury dips to 9.8°C in Dum Dum in Kolkata: Here is list of West Bengal districts with ‘Cold Day’ warning by IMD
Severe cold wave grips J&K and Ladakh; Drass shivers at minus 22.8°C
Bone-chilling cold tightens grip on J&K and Ladakh; Drass freezes at –24.7°C, Srinagar records season's lowest at minus 5.1
