Kashmir’s weather turns this week. The Meteorological Centre (MeT) Srinagar forecasts light rain across the Valley and light snowfall over the higher reaches from 6 to 10 October 2026, with thunderstorms and gusty winds. It expects 11 to 13 October to be dry. Gulmarg’s Apharwat ridge, Sonamarg and Zojila may get a dusting. The Gulmarg meadow, Srinagar and Pahalgam are much more likely to get showers and a sharp drop in temperature than snow. If you are in Kashmir now or flying in this week, you do not need to cancel. Plan your high-altitude day for 11–13 October and keep one buffer day.
This update uses the MeT Srinagar forecasts carried by Kashmir’s newspapers on 2, 5 and 6 October 2026. Every date below is a 2026 date.
What MeT Srinagar is forecasting, day by day
The early-October dry spell ended with the Valley running hot. On 5 October, Srinagar touched 30.8°C, 5.3°C above normal, with a low of 12.3°C. Gulmarg reached 23°C and Pahalgam 26.6°C, and no station recorded rain. A western disturbance now brings that warm spell to an end.
Here is the forecast as reported on 6 October. All outlets agree on the 6–10 October wet spell and a calmer stretch afterwards. The day-by-day split comes from Rising Kashmir’s report of the same day.
| Date (2026) | MeT Srinagar forecast | What it means on the ground |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 6 Oct | Light rain at many places, light snow over higher reaches, thunderstorms and gusty winds | The most unsettled day. Keep it for Srinagar: the Old City, the Shankaracharya drive if clear, a houseboat afternoon. |
| Wed 7 Oct | Mostly dry, brief showers at isolated places | Usable for Pahalgam or a Mughal gardens day. Carry a rain layer. |
| Thu 8 Oct | Scattered light rain, snow over the peaks | Not the day for the Gulmarg Gondola’s upper phase or the Zojila drive. |
| Fri 9 Oct | Generally clear, possible evening rain | A good morning window. Start early and be back by late afternoon. |
| Sat 10 Oct | Rain, snow over higher reaches and gusty winds return | Treat it like 6 October. Stay low and keep plans flexible. |
| Sun 11 – Tue 13 Oct | Dry / partly cloudy | The best window this fortnight for Gulmarg, Sonamarg and long drives. Fresh snow on the ridges should be visible. |
| Wed 14 – Thu 15 Oct | Cloudy with rain and snow over higher elevations (one outlet only; others say “partly cloudy” for 11–15 Oct) | Unconfirmed. Re-check the MeT bulletin on 12–13 October before you lock plans for these dates. |
MeT’s advisory for the spell is aimed mainly at residents and farmers. It asks them to finish the apple and paddy harvest and store it safely. It also asks people to stay away from loose structures, electric wires and old trees during gusty winds and thunderstorms. That second piece of advice applies to tourists too. Avoid sitting under big chinars or standing near shikara ghats in a squall.
Will it actually snow in Gulmarg this week?
Probably only up high. The forecast says light snow over higher reaches. In Kashmir that usually means the Apharwat ridge above Gulmarg, the slopes around Sonamarg and Thajiwas, Zojila, and passes like Sinthan Top and Razdan. It does not mean the Gulmarg bowl where the hotels are. The season’s first snow this year fell on 5 September 2026 and followed the same pattern. It reached Gulmarg’s upper slopes, the Sonamarg–Zojila belt, Gurez’s Tulail valley and Mahadev peak, and UNI reported it only above about 3,900 metres.
So a traveller arriving this week could see fresh white on the ridgeline from the Gulmarg meadow, and possibly snow underfoot at the top of the Gondola if it is running. You should not expect snowball fights in town. Proper, lasting snow in Gulmarg is a winter event. Nobody can promise it for a particular date, and you should be wary of any operator who does.
What this means for your trip
If you are already in Kashmir (6–10 October)
- Swap your days, don’t cancel them. Move Gulmarg and Sonamarg to 9 October (morning) or 11–13 October. Use 6, 8 and 10 October for Srinagar, Dal Lake and the Mughal gardens.
- Expect Gondola pauses. Cable cars, especially the upper phase to Apharwat, are routinely held in high winds or poor visibility. If the Gondola is the point of your Gulmarg day, ask your driver to check before you leave Srinagar (our Srinagar taxi service page lists Gulmarg and Sonamarg day-trip rates).
- Don’t push the high roads in bad weather. Zojila (towards Kargil and Leh), Sinthan Top, the Mughal Road and the Gurez road are the routes most likely to be affected when snow falls on the higher reaches. We are not giving a live open/closed status here. Check the J&K Traffic Police advisory on the morning you travel and follow what it says.
- Pack warmer than Monday’s numbers suggest. Srinagar was above 30°C on 5 October, but Pahalgam’s low that night was 7.4°C. A wet spell after a warm run can feel like a sudden change of season. Bring a fleece or down layer, a waterproof shell and closed shoes for Gulmarg and Sonamarg.
If you are travelling 11–31 October
- This is a good time to be booking. After this spell, the forecast points to dry, cooler, clearer days. That is classic Kashmir autumn weather, and Harud (autumn) colour in the chinars typically builds through late October into November.
- Put a buffer day in the middle of the trip, not at the end. If a western disturbance pushes Gulmarg or Sonamarg back by a day, you still have time.
- Five nights is the minimum we would plan for Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg in October. You can browse fixed itineraries on our Kashmir tour packages page. Every one can be adjusted around the forecast.
- Want snow? Plan later in the season. For the realistic snow months and what each one looks like, see our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Kashmir.
If you are a travel agent with October groups on the ground
Brief your drivers to keep the high-altitude day movable between 9 and 13 October. Tell clients in writing that the Gondola and passes depend on the weather. Add the snow-and-weather clause to any November quote you send this week. If you need a ground partner who will re-sequence days on the spot rather than charge for it, our Kashmir DMC service for travel agents sets out how we handle that.
The same system is crossing Himachal and Uttarakhand
IMD also expects rain, and snow at height, in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand over the same days, and Himachal’s Manali, Kullu, Shimla, Chamba and Mandi are among the areas on alert. If your trip combines Kashmir with Manali or Spiti, read our Himachal weather forecast for 6–10 October 2026 too. The advice is the same in both places: keep the high day flexible and don’t drive a pass in active snowfall.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to travel to Kashmir between 6 and 10 October 2026?
Yes, with normal care. MeT Srinagar forecasts light rain and light higher-altitude snow, not a heavy-weather warning. The practical risks are Gondola pauses, slower or temporarily restricted high-pass roads, and gusty winds. Keep your itinerary flexible and follow official traffic advisories.
Will Gulmarg get snow in October 2026?
The upper slopes may get light snow during 6–10 October, as they did on 5 September. Lasting snow in the Gulmarg meadow itself is a winter event and cannot be promised for any October date.
When is the next dry window?
According to the forecast reported on 5 and 6 October 2026, 11 to 13 October. One outlet’s version of the bulletin shows another cloudy spell with higher-reach snow on 14–15 October. Treat that as unconfirmed until MeT updates it.
Is the Srinagar–Leh highway (Zojila) open?
We don’t publish live road status because it can change within hours when snow falls on Zojila. Check the J&K Traffic Police advisory and the Ladakh administration on the morning of travel. If you are planning a Kashmir–Ladakh combination this late in the season, call us first.
Is October a good month for Kashmir?
Yes. October gives you dry, clear days, cold nights and autumn colour arriving towards the end of the month. It is quieter than summer and well before the winter rush. This week’s wet spell is short, and the outlook after it is settled.
What should I pack for Kashmir in mid-October?
Layers: thermals for Gulmarg and Sonamarg evenings, a fleece or light down jacket, a waterproof shell, closed walking shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen. Mountain sun is strong even on cold days.
Plan around the weather, not against it
We are a Himachal-based DMC that runs Kashmir trips with local drivers and partner hotels in Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam. When a forecast like this one lands, we re-sequence the days rather than cancel them. If you are travelling this month and want an itinerary built around the dry windows, call or WhatsApp +91 70874 88961.
Sources
- Meteorological Centre Srinagar (IMD) — official forecasts and bulletins
- Rising Kashmir, 6 October 2026 — J&K weather: light rain, snow over higher reaches
- Kashmir Reader, 6 October 2026 — Upper reaches likely to witness snowfall, rain till Oct 10
- The Kashmir Images, 6 October 2026 — Light snowfall, rain likely in J&K upper reaches from Oct 6
- Kashmir Observer, 2 October 2026 — Rain, snow likely in J&K from Oct 6
- UNI, 5 September 2026 — Season’s first snow in Kashmir’s higher reaches
Forecast details as reported up to 6 October 2026. Weather in the mountains changes fast. Always check the latest MeT Srinagar bulletin and official traffic advisories before you travel.
