‘Avalanche’ is a French word literally meaning ‘snow slide’, Avalanches, which each year become the reason to kill thousands worldwide are nothing but an offshoot of snowfall. These are one of the most hazardous events categorized as ‘catastrophic’ which cause loss to property and life. They are a result of successive events of excessive snowfall and days of observing sub-zero temperatures. As snow starts stacking its mass increases rapidly, and once triggered it collapses under its own weight. When this mass of snow comes down it follows a cascading effect where it keeps gathering whatever comes in its way. Therefore, the mass and volume increases exponentially and so does increase the hazard that it brings down with it.
Just like Earthquakes Avalanches come without a forewarning at any time of the day. The only sign that is a pre-cursor to Avalanches is snowfall. All hilly regions in the Himalayas are vulnerable to Avalanches- be it mid or upper reaches.
This last two days of the weekend saw heavy snowfall and rains over the hills with one of the season’s lowest temperatures being recorded. The next couple of days as well, will see a similar kind of weather. Snow and rain is forecast for January 10, 11 and 12. Today however, comes as a little breather when rains have taken a backseat for a while. Tomorrow will see snow yet again followed by a pleasant day-after-tomorrow.
These on and off snow and rain activities are a precursor for avalanche like activities in the hills. Many places like that of Kargil, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Bandipora in Jammu and Kashmir; Lahaul & Spiti, Keylong, Kalpa, Narkanda, few higher reaches of Kullu-Manali in Himachal Pradesh; Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand are put of alert against avalanches amid snowfall prediction. Skymet extends caution for people residing and traveling to these places in the next few days until weekend.
You can further read our detailed story on Avalanches here
Image Credits – https://www.bikatadventures.com/
Any information taken from here should be credited to Skymet Weather