This winter, the Himalayas experienced unusual late snowfall after weeks with little to no snow, isepisodic late-season whiteness can’t make up for earlier deficits when snowpack normally builds and stores water.

Scientists link this shift to climate change altering precipitation patterns and rising winter temperatures. As the freezing level climbs higher, precipitation that once fell as snow increasingly becomes rain even at traditionally cold altitudes. This change affects how water is stored and released in mountain systems, weakening natural snow reservoirs that feed rivers and support ecosystems throughout spring and summer.

The consequences go beyond visuals. Snowpack acts as a slow-release water source, stabilizing soil, nourishing alpine life, and sustaining rivers that millions downstream depend on. With shorter snow seasons and faster melt, water availability may become more unpredictable, and forest fire risks and tourism patterns are already showing impacts.

This year’s late snowfall, far from being an isolated weather oddity, reflects a longer-term trend of declining snow persistence and changing Himalayan climate systems — sounding an urgent call for climate monitoring and adaptive water planning as these mountains warm.