A major ski resort town in northern India has had to cancel reservations en masse due to the lowest winter snowfall in years, prompting worries of climate change impacting the region.

Resorts in Gulmarg, Kashmir, were unable to open their ski slopes as the valleys received the lowest snowfall in seven years, leaving the area with only small patches of snow on the ground as seen in footage from January 14th.

India-administered Kashmir, renowned for its pristine snow-covered landscapes, is facing an unprecedented challenge – a severe shortage of snowfall across Kashmir region.

Gulmarg, known as Kashmir’s winter wonderland as snow falls heavily, is unable to open its famous ski slopes this year, disappointing enthusiasts from India and abroad. A tourism favourite at an altitude of 8,694 feet, Gulmarg’s bare hillsides are now a barometer of changing global weather patterns and their impact on Kashmir region

The meadow, usually teeming with skiers enjoying training sessions in January, is empty and silent. Chairlift and snow-beaters are not functioning. Patches of melting snow are seen where once four to six feet of accumulated snow delighted visitors.

Unseasonably warm temperatures, a global trend observed throughout 2023, have left the Himalayan and Pirpanjal mountains with little to no snow accumulation, raising concerns for the region's tourism,agriculture, and water resources.

The data from the India Meteorological Department is alarming, revealing a significant drop in precipitation levels. In December 2023, Gulmarg recorded a mere 17.6 mm compared to 255.2 mm in 2020. Similarly, Jammu and Kashmir's winter capital, Srinagar, is yet to see snowfall this year, with South Kashmir's Qazigund experiencing a dip in precipitation from 217.8 mm in 2019 to 21.2 mm in December 2023.

In addition to the local implications, the global context paints a grim picture. A study published in the Nature Climate Change journal predicts worsening snow shortages in Europe's mountains by the end of the century, impacting half of the world's ski resorts concentrated in the region. The lack of a similar study for Kashmir's key ski resort, Gulmarg, raises concerns about the future of skiing in the region, which attracts skiers from around the world.