Snow and rain chaos in Himachal & J&K, wet February ahead as per IMD

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Heavy snow in Himachal & J&K and rain in north India heighten cold; IMD predicts above-normal February rainfall across India after dry spell.

On January 31, heavy snow disrupted daily routines in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, while increased rainfall in various northern Indian locations amplified the cold conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that February will see higher-than-average rainfall nationwide after a relatively dry December and January.

The IMD anticipates that North India, which includes seven meteorological subdivisions, will witness rainfall exceeding 122 percent of the long-term average this February.

Significant snowfall, marking the year’s first, obstructed daily activities in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday. Tribal regions and other elevated areas saw the closure of 134 roads, including four national highways due to the snow.

Shimla’s higher regions recorded about 15 centimeters of snowfall from Tuesday night, causing a significant drop in daytime temperatures by up to five degrees in a single day, reported by MeT official Sandeep Sharma to PTI. An orange alert for substantial snowfall and rain on January 31 and February 1 was issued for five districts, including Shimla and Kullu.

Delhi felt severe cold on Wednesday, with light rainfall leading to a maximum temperature of 18.6 degrees Celsius, below the seasonal norm, and a minimum of 7.3 degrees Celsius. Dense fog in the morning led to flight diversions and delayed trains at Delhi airport.

Fresh snowfall graced the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, affecting areas around the Zojila pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway, while the plains experienced rainfall. Notable tourist destinations like Gulmarg and Sonamarg saw fresh snowfall. An avalanche warning was issued for six districts in the region.

‘Chilla-i-Kalan,’ the region’s 40-day intense winter period, concluded on Tuesday, with the end seeing some snowfall in higher areas despite a predominantly dry season.

Uttarakhand’s MeT department issued a yellow alert for potential heavy rain, snowfall, and thunderstorms in the state’s mountainous regions over the next day.

Punjab experienced rainfall on Wednesday, breaking a long spell of dry weather, with temperatures in Punjab and Haryana remaining around normal levels.

The IMD’s February forecast suggests normal to above-normal rainfall for northeast and central India but below-normal rainfall for the southern peninsula. Higher-than-average minimum temperatures are expected across most of India, with certain regions likely to experience above-normal maximum temperatures.

The forecast also indicates fewer cold wave days in parts of central India during February. The current strong El Nino conditions are expected to weaken, transitioning to ENSO-neutral by spring end, with a possible shift to La Nina conditions, beneficial for the Indian monsoon, later in the year.

The Jammu-Srinagar highway, has been blocked due to intermittent shooting stones at certain places caused by heavy rainfall along NHW and snowfall between Ramsoo and Banihal. The traffic police recommend avoiding travel on NHW until the road is cleared and advise consulting the traffic control unit before commencing the journey. The Mughal road and Srinagar-Sonamarg road are already closed for traffic due to snow accumulation.

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