Srinagar, March 10 Several areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir received snowfall on Tuesday, while the plains were hit by rain, ending the prolonged dry spell in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
Gurez in north Kashmir and the Sonamarg-Zojila axis in central Kashmir were among the higher reaches that experienced overnight snowfall, while rain continued to batter the Valley's plains, including Srinagar, until morning, they said.
The wet spell ended the prolonged dry spell in Jammu and Kashmir, which recorded its seventh consecutive winter rainfall deficit this year.
The core winter period this season – from December 2025 to February 2026 – ended with a significant shortfall of 65 per cent compared to the season's normal.
The region received only 100.6 mm of precipitation against a normal of 284.9 mm during December-February 2025-26.
December saw actual rainfall of 13 mm against the normal of 59.4 mm, which was a shortfall of 78 per cent.
January witnessed actual rainfall of 73.4 mm against the normal of 95.1 mm, a shortfall of 23 per cent.
While January saw some western disturbance activity, which prevented a complete seasonal collapse, the rainfall received was still below normal and could not compensate for December's shortfall.
In February, the actual rainfall was only 14.2 mm compared to the normal of 130.4 mm, a shortfall of 89 per cent.
Meanwhile, the meteorological department here has forecast that the weather will generally be cloudy with moderate rain or snow in the higher reaches at isolated locations until Wednesday.
A few higher reaches of Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, and Anantnag may experience moderate snowfall, it said.