Snowfall Over Northern Mountains: Weather Activity To Continue During The Week
Representational Image: AI-Skymet
Key Takeaways:
- Fresh snowfall has covered higher reaches of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Rohtang Pass, and Lahaul-Spiti.
- Lower and mid-hill regions experienced scattered to moderate rainfall across Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
- A fresh western disturbance and induced cyclonic circulation will intensify weather activity around March 19–20.
- Rain, hailstorms, and widespread snowfall above 12,000 feet may disrupt travel and tourism across the Himalayan region.
Fresh snowfall blanketed the higher reaches of Kashmir, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Sinthan Top. Areas like Gurez Valley, Sinthan Top, and Pir Ki Gali reported significant snow accumulation. Lower hills, including Srinagar, Banihal, Qazi Gund, and Awantipur, received scattered rainfall. Moderate rains in the mid and lower hills and snowfall in the upper reaches were witnessed over Himachal Pradesh. It rained in parts of Kullu, Manali, Bilaspur, Solan, Shimla, Kangra, Sirmaur, and Una, while light to moderate snowfall was received in the high-altitude areas of Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, and Kinnaur districts, including Atal Tunnel, Sissu, Rohtang Pass, and Shinkula Pass. Late snowfall over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand has offered a stark contrast to the barren landscape observed earlier during the peak winter months of January–February. More rain, snow, and erratic weather conditions are expected for the next one week across the mountains.
A chain of westerly systems of varying intensity, nearly overlapping in nature, is likely to run across the northern mountains for the next one week or so. A fresh western disturbance is arriving on 17th March 2025. An induced cyclonic circulation over the plains will increase the spread and intensity and trigger simultaneous weather activity over the mountains and plains of North India. The hills will have a bigger share on 19th and 20th March. Fairly widespread rainfall, possibly accompanied by hailstorms at a few places in the lower and middle hills, and a decent spread of snowfall in the elevated areas beyond 12,000 feet is likely during this period.
Roads and highways may get choked at some places. Air operations are likely to face suspension, albeit for small durations. Restrictions may come up for tourists, more likely for Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Rohtang Pass, Lahaul-Spiti, and high-altitude areas of the Kullu Valley. The good thing will be that water bodies, the lifeline for the upcoming season, are likely to get recharged. Many parts, earlier reeling under hot conditions, will be relieved and cool conditions will prevail, at least for the next about ten days. However, caution needs to be exercised by tourists, trekkers, and adventure enthusiasts during the next one week.
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