“We should have at least one meter”: in the Himalayas, snow is sorely lacking in the heart of winter

Yanis Darras with AFP 1:12 p.m., February 1, 2024

Snowflakes are rare on the peaks of the Himalayas. In the Kashmir region located between India, Pakistan and China, residents have barely seen a single snowflake fall on the peaks above them. This year, the mountain slopes remained brown and bare, exceptional weather conditions linked, according to experts, to global warming. 

A disaster for Gulmarg, one of the highest ski resorts in the world, located in Indian Kashmir, which is desperately awaiting the thousands of tourists it usually attracts. Same observation on the Pakistani mountainsides, where ski resort managers look desperately at the sky. 

Normally, at this time of year, "we should have at least 1 meter to 1.50 meters of snow. But for the moment, we have nothing", relates to our colleagues at

, Vikram Katoch, founder of an NGO protecting the Lahaul-Spiti valley in India. 

Precipitation collapse

The region has seen little rain this year and temperatures have averaged six degrees Celsius warmer than normal since last fall, according to the weather service. Last month, rainfall in Kashmir was 80% lower than in previous years. The few snow showers that fell on Gulmarg quickly melted. India's Ministry of Earth Sciences expects a particularly strong impact from global warming in the Himalayas and Kashmir, according to a 2020 report.

In early January, the UN World Meteorological Organization announced that 2023 had been "by far" the hottest year on record. The annual average global temperature in 2023 was 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900).

Concerns for this summer

In addition to a collapse in the ski industry, area residents worry about a water shortage that could have a disastrous impact on agriculture. “We call this region the Third Pole, because its ice fields contain the largest reserve of fresh water outside the polar regions,” explains Joydeep Gupta, an editor at the science platform

. Problem is, ten rivers supplying almost two billion people have their source in the Himalayan range.

According to climatologist Shakil Romshoo, Kashmir is "expected to experience more frequent and prolonged periods of drought" in the coming decades. Climate change has already pushed farmers to change their practices. This week, authorities in Kashmir warned of water shortages and the risk of forest fires due to a lack of snow, which usually feeds rivers.

Farmers have abandoned rice for fruit trees, which use less water. But with the drought and sunshine, trees are already in flower, more than two months in advance.