Will it snow in Kashmir this winter? The short answer
Yes, it will snow in Kashmir in winter 2026-27. The real question is when, and where you should be standing when it does.
If you are planning a winter trip, you have probably typed this into Google at least twice already. Fair enough. Nobody wants to fly all the way to Kashmir, zip up a brand-new jacket, and find grass.
Here is the honest version in four lines:
The forecast: the J&K weather department expects a relatively mild and dry winter because of El Niño, but says one or two major snowfall spells in peak winter cannot be ruled out.
Snow has already arrived up high: Apharwat Peak, the top of the Gulmarg Gondola, turned white on 17 September 2026.
Your safest window: late December to February, during Chillai Kalan, the 40 coldest days of the Kashmiri winter.
Your safest places: Gulmarg (especially Gondola Phase 2) and Sonamarg. Srinagar city is a maybe, not a promise.
Now let's get into the details, plus the trick to seeing snow even if the clouds are being stingy.
What the weather department says about winter 2026-27
The official outlook is a milder, drier winter than usual, with one or two big snowfall spells still possible in peak winter (Outlook Traveller). The weather department also says seasonal forecasts this far ahead are uncertain, so treat it as a hint, not a verdict.
El Niño, explained without the science lecture
El Niño is a warming of the Pacific Ocean, thousands of kilometres away, that shuffles weather patterns around the world. Kashmir gets most of its winter snow from "Western Disturbances", weather systems that drift in from the west. In El Niño years they tend to show up less often.
Think of it this way: El Niño doesn't cancel the snow party. It just makes the guest of honour arrive fashionably late.
What happened the last time El Niño came to town
Winter 2023-24 was an El Niño winter, and it is the best preview we have:
Gulmarg went through a dry spell of over two months, and snow finally returned at the end of January 2024 (The Kashmir Images).
J&K's tourism director said the ski season was running 10 to 15 days late (KTVZ).
Once the snow fell, people rushed in. Gulmarg saw 15,086 domestic visitors between 1 and 6 February 2024 alone (The Kashmir Images).
And here is the hopeful part. Srinagar's MeT director has said El Niño years usually bring less snow and rain, but not always a dry spell (Kashmir Post).
The snow has already started (up high)
On 17 September 2026, fresh snow covered the area around Apharwat Peak and Gondola Phase 2 in Gulmarg. It also fell at Zojila Pass and Zero Point near Sonamarg, and at Kabul Gali in Gurez (Outlook Traveller). Srinagar got rain instead.
That tells you the most useful thing in this whole post: in Kashmir, altitude beats luck. The higher you go, the better your snow odds.
Snowfall in Kashmir month by month: November 2026 to April 2027
Your best odds of snow are from late December to February. Gulmarg's snow season traditionally runs from November to February or March (KTVZ), and in a slow El Niño year the start can slip by a couple of weeks.
November 2026: "The trailer" Snow sits on the peaks, and Gulmarg may get its first light dusting. Srinagar is crisp, sunny and cold in the evenings. Snow odds: low in the towns, decent at the top of the Gondola. Good for: lower rates and fewer crowds.
December 2026: "Winter switches on" The cold settles in properly, and on 21 December Chillai Kalan begins. That's the 40-day harshest stretch of winter, when the chances of snowfall are highest (Business Standard). Christmas and New Year bring a big rush of visitors, so book early. Snow odds: medium, rising through the month.
January 2027: "The main event" This is the heart of Chillai Kalan, which runs until 30 January. It's the coldest, most snow-prone stretch of the year. It's also when frozen sights, like the Drung waterfall near Tangmarg, are at their best. Snow odds: the highest of the year.
February 2027: "The encore" Chillai Kalan is followed by Chillai Khurd (the "small cold", 20 days) and then Chillai Bachha (the "baby cold", 10 days). Don't let the cute names fool you. February is still prime snow and skiing time, and in the last El Niño winter, most of the snow came at the end of January and in February. Snow odds: high.
March 2027: "Snow up top, spring below" The valley starts to thaw while the upper slopes of Gulmarg hold their snow. You can have snow at the top of the Gondola and blossoms in Srinagar on the same trip. Snow odds: good up high, low in the towns.
April 2027: "The surprise round" Even April can deliver. On 4 April 2026, Apharwat Peak and Kongdoori in Gulmarg got fresh, heavy snow (Kashmir Ahead). Snow odds: possible up high, never guaranteed.
Where to find snow in Kashmir, even in a dry winter
If the forecast makes you nervous, build your trip around these four places. Think of them as your snow insurance policy.
1. Gulmarg Gondola Phase 2 (Apharwat Peak)
This is the closest thing Kashmir has to guaranteed snow. Phase 1 of the Gondola takes you up to Kongdoori, and Phase 2 carries you higher onto the Apharwat slopes. Apharwat had snow on 17 September 2026 and again as late as April 2026, so it holds snow long after the town below has gone brown.
One tip: Phase 2 can pause in bad weather or when avalanche risk is high. Keep a spare day in Gulmarg so one cloudy morning doesn't cost you the whole experience.
2. Sonamarg, now open all winter
Sonamarg used to shut for the winter. Since the Z-Morh tunnel opened on 13 January 2025, it's reachable all year. Around 55,935 visitors arrived in the first 16 days after the opening, with about 1.5 feet of snow on the ground (Kashmir News Observer). It sits higher than Srinagar, which makes it a strong bet for snow, and the crowds are still thinner than in Gulmarg.
3. The frozen Drung waterfall
Here is the plot twist: Drung doesn't need fresh snowfall. It needs cold, and Kashmir in January always delivers cold. When the waterfall near Tangmarg freezes into giant icicles, it draws thousands of tourists daily (Greater Kashmir). It is your best "wow" moment in a low-snow year. Check it's open before you go, and we can confirm that for you.
4. Pahalgam
Pahalgam sits higher and colder than Srinagar, and the Lidder valley turns into a quiet, snowy postcard in peak winter. It's ideal if you want snow without Gulmarg's crowds.
Where not to bet the whole trip: Srinagar city. It does get snow in some winters, and a snowy Dal Lake is magical. But on 17 September, while the peaks turned white, Srinagar just got rain. Base yourself up high and treat Srinagar snow as a bonus.
The snow chaser's game plan: 7 rules for winter 2026-27
In an El Niño winter, the travellers who see snow aren't the lucky ones. They're the ones who planned like this.
Aim for mid-January to mid-February. That's the heart of the snow season. In the last El Niño winter, the big snow came at the end of January.
Sleep high, not just visit high. Spend at least two nights in Gulmarg or Sonamarg instead of doing day trips from Srinagar. When snow falls overnight, you want to wake up in it, not be stuck in traffic trying to reach it.
Keep one buffer day. Gondola Phase 2 can pause and mountain roads can slow down after heavy snow. A spare day turns "we missed it" into "we did it tomorrow".
Watch the 5-day forecast, not the 3-month one. Seasonal outlooks are rough guides. Follow the Meteorological Centre Srinagar's updates in the week before you travel.
Book flexible, book early. When snow finally arrived in February 2024, people who had been waiting rushed in all at once. Lock in a flexible booking now instead of racing everyone else later. Stay Pattern bookings come with free cancellation or changes up to 24 hours before arrival.
Get a driver who knows winter roads. Snow on the Tangmarg–Gulmarg road is no place to learn. A local driver who drives these roads every winter is worth every rupee.
Don't plan a tight flight home. Heavy snow can slow everything down, flights included. Leave some breathing room on your last day.
Where to stay for the best snow odds
The secret to seeing snow is simple: sleep where it falls. These Stay Pattern properties put you right where the snow is.
Gulmarg (highest odds)
Gulmarg Woods by Stay Pattern: cottages near the Gulmarg Gondola, each with its own dining hall. Be first in the Gondola queue while everyone else is still driving up from Tangmarg.
Shaw Inn by Stay Pattern: a cosy base in Gulmarg for snow days, sledging and ski lessons.
Sonamarg (the new winter favourite)
Badar Resort & Spa by Stay Pattern: in Gagangir, Sonamarg, with river, mountain and glacier views. It has heating, a bonfire, a lawn and a kids' area. Snow outside and a bonfire inside, sorted.
North Cliff by Stay Pattern, Sonamarg: another base for waking up in the snow belt.
Drung (for the frozen waterfall)
Marina Drung by Stay Pattern: stay right by the Drung waterfall and see the icicles before the day-trippers arrive.
Pahalgam
River Dale by Stay Pattern: your Pahalgam base for snowy walks in the Lidder valley.
Srinagar (your base between snow trips)
Lake Avenue by Stay Pattern: on Boulevard Road at Nishat, facing Dal Lake. Every room has hot and cold AC, and Premier Lake View rooms put the lake right outside your window.
Harmukh Houseboat by Stay Pattern: a heritage houseboat on Nigeen Lake. Book the Luxury Heritage Room for its private deck, which is perfect if Srinagar gets a snowy morning.
Aurum Luxury Collection by Stay Pattern and Wood Venture Residency by Stay Pattern in the city centre are good bases too. Wood Venture offers airport transfers and local sightseeing.
Getting around: Stay Pattern's cabs, from sedans and Innova Crystas to Tempo Travellers and Force Urbanias for groups, connect all of these, so you can chase the snow wherever it falls.
What to pack for snow in Kashmir
Pack for cold, not for the photos. (You'll look good anyway, Kashmir sees to that.)
Thermal inners, top and bottom. This is the single most important layer. Everything else goes on top.
A proper down or padded jacket. A fashionable "winter coat" from Delhi or Mumbai won't do here.
Waterproof boots with good grip. Snow is fun. Wet socks are not.
Woollen socks, gloves, a cap and a muffler. Pack two pairs of gloves, because one pair will get soaked in your first snowball fight.
Sunglasses and sunscreen. Snow reflects sunlight hard, especially at Apharwat.
Lip balm and moisturiser. The cold, dry air is brutal on skin.
A power bank. Phone batteries drain fast in the cold, usually right before the best photo of the trip.
Local upgrade: buy a pheran, the long Kashmiri woollen cloak, in Srinagar. It's warm, it's comfy, and it's the most Kashmiri souvenir you can take home.
Ready to chase the snow?
Snow in Kashmir is like a celebrity: worth the wait, slightly unpredictable, and much easier to meet if you know where it hangs out. Plan for January or February, sleep high in Gulmarg or Sonamarg, keep a buffer day, and you'll be making snow angels while everyone else is refreshing the weather app.
Stay Pattern, an award-winning hotel and travel management company in Kashmir, can put together your full winter trip: hotels in the snow belt, cabs and a route that follows the weather. Call or WhatsApp us on +91 9622 333330, or book at staypattern.com
