The Himalayas are getting much less snow in winter than they used to. In many areas, mountains that should be covered in white are now bare and rocky. Experts say that over the last five years, snowfall has dropped well below the average recorded between 1980 and 2020.
Higher temperatures are making the problem worse. Snow that does fall melts quickly, and some lower regions are seeing more rain than snow. Scientists say this is partly due to global warming, and they warn that the region is now facing a “snow drought” during winter.
This decline in snow makes an already serious problem worse. Himalayan glaciers are melting faster than ever, and less winter snow means less water for rivers, drinking, irrigation, and hydropower. Snow also stabilizes mountains, so losing it increases the risk of landslides, rockfalls, and glacial lake floods. Dry conditions also make forest fires more likely.
How Serious Is the Snowfall Drop?
In December, the Indian Meteorological Department recorded almost no rainfall or snowfall in northern India. Parts of northwest India, including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, could see up to 86% less precipitation than the long-term average between January and March.
Data from 1980 to 2021 shows that winter precipitation has been steadily decreasing in the western and central Himalayas. In northwestern regions, snowfall has fallen by about 25% over the past five years. Nepal is also seeing very little rain or snow, with nearly no rainfall since October.
While some winters have seen heavy snow, these are rare events and do not make up for the overall drop in regular snowfall.
Snow Drought and Water Risk
Experts also look at snow persistence, which measures how long snow stays on the ground. The 2024-2025 winter recorded the lowest snow persistence in 23 years, almost 24% below normal. Four of the last five winters in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region had below-average snow cover.
Snow drought is especially noticeable at elevations between 3,000 and 6,000 meters. Since snowmelt contributes about a quarter of annual water in the region’s major rivers, a drop in snowfall threatens water supplies for nearly two billion people.
Why Snowfall Is Declining
A main reason is weaker westerly disturbances—low-pressure systems that bring winter rain and snow from the Mediterranean. These systems are now weaker and sometimes track further north, reducing rainfall and snowfall in northern India, Pakistan, and Nepal. This winter, Indian meteorologists described these disturbances as “feeble.”
The Double Threat
The Himalayas are facing a double crisis: glaciers are melting, and snowfall is decreasing. This combination threatens water supply, ecosystems, and the safety of communities across the region. Experts warn that if the trend continues, it will have serious consequences for both people and nature.
