Long Spell Of Snowfall Over Hills Starts On Weekend, Rains Follow Over Plains

Northern mountains witnessed a solitary spell of snowfall in the month of February, albeit heavy and widespread, at the start of the month. Plains also witnessed decent winter showers across all the states. However, the entire northern front has gone quiet thereafter. Seasonal snowfall/rainfall deficiency recovered earlier has mounted once again, both, over the hills and plains. Meteorological conditions are building up to revive the seasonal flavour, simultaneously for the hills and plains, starting around the weekend and rolling over to next week, capturing the foothills and the plains together.

An active western disturbance is likely to approach the Western Himalayas on 17^th Feb but trigger the weather activity largely the next day, on 18^th Feb. Mountains will witness a fresh bout of prolonged snow and rain till 21^st Feb, whereas widespread activity for the plains is expected only on 20^thFeb, covering Punjab, Haryana, North Rajasthan, Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh. Prior to that, the foothills of Punjab and Haryana and a few northern parts of Punjab and Haryana will experience scattered rainfall on the 18^th and 19^th Feb. A Simultaneous attack of inclement weather for plains and mountains is expected on the 20^th Feb 2024. Heavy snowfall across the hilly areas and intense thunderstorms over the plains with peak intensity is expected on this day. Tall convective clouds will have some hailstones embedded in the middle and higher layers. Lightening strikes and hailstorms will constitute the main weather hazards, to be guarded against.

As the western disturbance will have the auxiliary support of induced cyclonic circulation, the spread of weather activity will be rather large. It will be almost similar to the earlier spell at the start of the month. During this episode of weather, minimum temperatures will rise much above the normal between 17^th and 21^st Feb.  On 21^st Feb, only the remnant of the western disturbance will leave some trail of weather over the mountains and very little activity for the plains. Broader clearance, both, for hills and plains is expected on 22^nd Feb 2024. In the wake of the system, mercury levels will plunge below normal, bringing back the nip in the air.