Another spell of snow in the hills and rains in the plains of North India is building up over the upcoming weekend. As the winter rains commenced quite late this season, looks like, the weather activity will get extended to the first fortnight of March. Following these lines, the spring season may shrink and the summers may arrive with their usual beat. A pleasant spell of mild winters, with slight warmth during the day and a cheeky nip in the night will remain the highlights for the first fortnight of March.
Western disturbance is arriving over the Western Himalayas, tomorrow. Its support system as induced circulation will also tag along, albeit with a lag of 24 hours. Weather activity will start with the mountains, on a lenient mode on 29th Feb. After, the merger of the induced system over the plains, with the parent one, the intensity and spread of weather activity will increase in the subsequent 48 hours. Heavy to very heavy snowfall is expected in the low and mid reaches, across Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand, in that order of severity. Fierce activity is likely on 02nd Feb, raging across the popular snow spots of Kashmir Valley and Lahaul-Spiti Kullu Valley. Popular resorts of Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Patnitop, Manali, Chamba, Dalhousie and Kullu Valley will bear the risk of ravaging weather, for nearly 48 hours. Incessant rains and severe thunderstorms could be accompanied by hailstorms in some places. The state of Uttrakhand will witness inclement weather conditions, less on 01st March and more of it on 02nd March.
Foothills of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will observe heavy thunderstorm activity and hailstorms. Moderate rains will cover a large area across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh on 01st and 02nd March. A remnant effect will be seen on the 03rd also, as the rainfall activity shifts eastward. Lightening strikes and gusty winds with possible hailstorms at some places are likely on these two days.
Heavy snowfall across the mountains may disrupt communication and connectivity. National Highway and the arterial roads are likely to be choked. Landslides rockslides and severe lightning may further compound the situation. Air connectivity to Srinagar and Leh will be impacted. It is advisable to restrict travel to the popular resorts. Adventure activities, if any, need to be halted for this duration. Utmost caution needs to be exercised to safeguard lives and assets.
Image Credit: traveltriangle