Snowfall in Himachal 2026-27: Where It Is Snowing Now (Dated Snow Report)

Short answer: As of 26 October 2026, snow in Himachal is only on the high passes and peaks: Rohtang, Shinku La, Baralacha La and Kunzum La, the Atal Tunnel north portal and Lahaul (Sissu, Koksar, Keylong), Sach Pass in Chamba, and the Dhauladhar peaks above Dharamshala. No snow has fallen in Dharamshala, McLeod Ganj, Shimla or Manali towns this season. The latest report is of snow at the Atal Tunnel north portal on Sunday 25 October 2026, and the weather office expects mainly clear days from 26 to 29 October, with rain or snow likely in the high hills on 30 and 31 October.

This is a living page. We update it through the 2026-27 winter with each snowfall reported by the weather office or news agencies, always with the date and the source. If a place is not in the log, we have not seen a reliable report of snow there. For Dharamshala in detail, read our Dharamshala winter and snowfall guide.

Himachal Snow Status: Quick Facts (26 October 2026)

Where is it snowing in Himachal right now?

Only high up. In October 2026, snow has fallen on the high passes of Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu, around the north portal of the Atal Tunnel, at Sach Pass in Chamba and on the Dhauladhar peaks. The towns most visitors stay in, from Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj to Shimla and Manali, have had rain at most.

That is normal for October. Snow in the hill towns usually comes in late December to February, and in some winters much later: Shimla's first snow of last season fell only on 23 January 2026, after about three months without precipitation (ETV Bharat, 23 Jan 2026).

Dated snow log, 2026-27 season

Newest first. Amounts are as reported by journalists or officials, not gauge readings. "Approx." means we worked the date out from the report, for example from a weekday.

We add a row each time a snowfall is reported. For the latest local conditions around Dharamshala, also see our travel updates.

When does it usually snow, place by place?

No place in Himachal has a fixed snow date. These windows come from dated reports, and the odds are our honest reading of them.

Two patterns matter for planning:

• The higher, the earlier and the surer. By the time McLeod Ganj sees its first flakes, the passes have usually been white for two months.
• Dry autumns happen. In winter 2023-24 the Dhauladhar got its first snow only on 17 January 2024, and The Tribune reported that the valley had neither rain nor snow at the start of winter for the first time in 17 years.

How do I check snow and roads before I travel?

1. IMD Shimla (Meteorological Centre Shimla). District-wise forecasts and colour-coded warnings at mausam.imd.gov.in/shimla. Look at the district you are going to (Kangra for Dharamshala, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti for Manali and the Atal Tunnel, Shimla for Kufri and Narkanda).
2. Police road updates. Himachal Pradesh Police and the district police (Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Shimla, Kangra) post closures and traffic advisories during snow. In October 2026 police stopped vehicles on Lahaul roads and cleared about 100 stranded vehicles near Gondla.
3. HRTC bus routes. HRTC suspends routes when roads ice up; on 24 January 2026 it suspended 58 routes in Kangra district. Check with the depot before you set out.
4. Your hotel or taxi driver. They know on the morning whether the McLeod Ganj, Naddi or Solang roads are passable. Our taxi desk books drivers who check conditions for you.
5. Our travel updates for Dharamshala, McLeod Ganj and Kangra.

What road closures should I expect in snow?

Snow closes roads quickly, sometimes within hours, and they reopen only after clearance.

• High passes close first. On 15 October 2026, Rohtang-Sarchu, Darcha-Shinku La and Gramphu-Batal were declared inaccessible, Sach Pass was closed, and the Manali-Kaza road shut.
• The Atal Tunnel road gets slippery. Vehicles were skidding near the north portal on 15 October 2026. The tunnel itself is not a promise that the road beyond is open on any given day.
• Town roads can block too. On 23 January 2026 the Shimla-Kufri road closed and vehicles were stuck near Dhalli Tunnel. In Dharamshala, the McLeod Ganj, Naddi and Dharamkot roads can be icy or blocked for a day after a fall.
• High treks may be restricted. In January 2026 a Kangra district order made SP Kangra permission mandatory for treks such as Triund and Kareri, with permissions cancelled on weather alerts. Ask before booking a winter trek.

Simple rules: travel in daylight, leave a spare day, do not try to cross a road or pass the police have closed, and use a driver used to hill roads rather than driving yourself in fresh snow.

Planning a snow trip from Dharamshala?

• Snow in McLeod Ganj: come in January or early February and stay in Naddi or Dharamkot for the best odds. See McLeod Ganj in December and Dharamshala in December and January.
• Guaranteed snow: Triund in winter, with a local guide and current permissions, or the Lahaul side of the Atal Tunnel when the road is open. See Dharamshala to Manali for the drive.
• Where to stay: mountain-view hotels in Naddi and Dharamkot, or browse all hotels in Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj.
• Christmas and New Year: snow then is a bonus, not a given; see the Kangra Valley Carnival 2026 and New Year in McLeod Ganj.

What is confirmed and what is not (26 October 2026)

This page is updated through the 2026-27 season. Last checked: 26 October 2026.