A good early dump of snow!  Bashir phoned, and Omar emailed me, confirming a good foot of snow has fallen at Gulmarg.  Most welcome after the slow start to the 2010 and 2011 winters!

The following item is from yesterday’s “Kashmir Dispatch”.

Parts of Kashmir Valley including Gulmarg, Sonamarg and areas on Line of Control Friday received moderate to heavy snow while rains lashed plains, dampening the spirit of Eid shoppers in the Valley.

The Srinagar-Leh highway was also snowed in, forcing the closure of the 434-kilometer thoroughfare.

Director meteorological department here, Sonam Lotus told Press Bureau of India that more than one feet snow was recorded in Gulmarg, the world famous ski-resort in North Kashmir’s Baramullah district.

“Snow was reported along the Line of control including Sadnatop, Machil, Z-Gali and Gurez besides Sonamarg, Zojilla (on Srinagar-Leh highway),” he added.

Official sources said that more than 2-feet snow has accumulated near Captain Mode on the Leh-Srinagar highway. The thoroughfare was closed since early morning and any decision about the opening of the highway will be taken depending on the weather and condition of the road, they added.

An update on the snowfall in Gulmar from Omar

Hi Peter,

How are you sir?

GREAT NEWS the first snow fall for the month took place in Gulmarg on Thursday, November 10.

There was approximately 1 foot of snow recorded.

Tangmarg Gulmarg road was closed due to snow, whilst authorities were trying to reopen it.

I hope this winter will be enthusistic and with zeal.

I  would like to know more about next winter!

With best regards,

Omar

Gulmarg

First snowfalls in Kashmir!  The following item is from yesterday’s “Kashmir Dispatch”.October snowfalls
It’s about time for people living in the Kashmir valley and adjoining areas to unpack their woollens as the upper reaches of the region have received the first snowfall ahead of the approaching winter months.

The snowfall in upper reaches and light to moderate rains in plains has resulted in severe cold.

It was raining in Gulmarg while the upper reaches had fresh snowfall, a hotel owner told a news agency over phone from the world famous ski resort this afternoon.  He said the sky was heavily cloudy and it was raining on the slopes which experienced about five to six inches of first snowfall of the season.

However, he said, tourists from different parts of the country, particularly from West Bengal, are arriving at Gulmarg in large numbers, much to the delight of local traders.

More October snow in Kashmir – following item is from yesterday’s “Kashmir Observer”.

After a long spell of dry weather, punctuated by drizzle on a couple of occasions, Kashmir valley was lashed by rains while the upper reaches in its peripheries received the season’s first snowfall, bringing down the temperature and forcing people to put on winter clothing.

According to reports, the higher reaches of the valley, including Gulmarg, Tangmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, and the mountain passes of Zoji La, Nasthachuna, Farkian and Rajdhani, experienced snowfall since last night while rains lashed the valley since Saturday morning.

The Met office here has forecast more rains and snow for the next 72 years. Talking to reporters, the Director of the Metrological Office, Sonam Lotus, said the upper reaches would receive more snow in the next 24 hours while moderate rainfall was expected across the valley.