Himalayas turn white: Fresh snowfall blankets Uttarakhand's Chamoli

The high Himalayas of Uttarakhand are beginning to turn white as the post-monsoon chill sets in.Fresh snowfall was reported on the Satopanth route from Badrinath, with the Chakratirth area witnessing a spell of heavy snow as the weather changed on Wednesday evening, September 23.A trekking group camping along the Satopanth trail was caught in the snowfall.With tents already pitched in the area, trekkers watched as the landscape quickly received a fresh white cover, marking an early sign that winter is beginning to make its presence felt up in the mountains. SNOWFALL MARKS SUDDEN WEATHER CHANGEThe snowfall comes as temperatures begin to fall across the higher Himalayan reaches after the monsoon.The IMD's tourism forecast for Chamoli on September 23 showed partly cloudy conditions with the possibility of rain or thunderstorms, while temperatures in the district were expected to remain lower over the following days. The change is not entirely unusual for the highest parts of the Himalayas. Snow can begin appearing at very high elevations in September, well before winter settles over the lower valleys.In fact, Hemkund Sahib, also in Chamoli district and located at around 4,572 metres, recorded the season's first snowfall on September 17.Rain and fog were also reported around the Badrinath and Kedarnath valleys at the time.IS SEPTEMBER SNOWFALL PREMATURE?For the high Himalayan zone, the answer is rather nuanced.A September snowfall at elevations such as Satopanth is not necessarily premature.The transition from the monsoon to the colder season begins during this period, and temperatures at very high elevations can fall enough for precipitation to occur as snow.#WATCH | Uttarakhand: The first snowfall of the season was recorded today at the holy shrine of Sri Hemkund Sahib, situated at an altitude of around 15,000 feet.Fresh snowfall occurred at Hemkunt Sahib this morning along with rain, bringing a picturesque winter charm to the pic.twitter.com/RWfSm0abiD— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) September 17, 2026The snowfall therefore marks a seasonal transition rather than the arrival of a full-fledged winter across Uttarakhand.Lower elevations, meanwhile, can continue to experience rain and relatively mild temperatures for weeks, even as the highest peaks and trekking routes begin receiving snow.For trekkers, the changing weather is also a reminder of how quickly conditions can shift in the high mountains.- EndsPublished On: Sep 24, 2026 12:41 IST