Update: January 16, 2017
Today morning, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of -1.2°C and Qazi Gund recorded minimum temperature of -3.4°C. But when these freezing cold temperatures are set beside Japanese research base camp Showa in Antarctica, it puts the freezing image of Antarctica to shame. Showa observed a minimum temperature of 0.9°C.
Showa is located at the coastal parts of Antarctica but few places in interior Antarctica observed temperatures falling down to -37.4°C.
Originally Published on January 15, 2017
As of today morning, the Indian base research camp in Antarctica named Bharati recorded a minimum temperature of -2.2°C. And simultaneously the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of -3.7°C. Bharati is situated near the coast of Antarctica.
Antarctica’s is perceived as one of the coldest places on Earth but when compared with chilly weather of hills of north India, it doesn’t stand a chance. Temperatures of Qazi Gund in Jammu and Kashmir have been on the negative since the start of winters. There are times when Bharati base camp in Antarctica has minimum temperatures above zero degrees Celsius.
This low temperature in hills of North India is attributed to successive western disturbances. And at present a fresh western disturbance is approaching Jammu and Kashmir again. Therefore we expect fairly widespread rain & snowfall over hilly states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
This weather activity can be expected around January 15 and 16. One or two places may receive heavy snowfall. Other than this activity, there are 2 back to back western disturbances which will start affecting from January 17 onward. So we expect light to moderate rain and snow to continue on January 17 as well.
Normally snowfall commences over hilly states of India in November but this year snowfall was delayed due to less numbers of active western disturbances. First significant snowfall was seen on December 25, 2016.
But in January, on and off snowfall are being witnessed and after these two western disturbances weather forecasting models are indicating that 2-3 more western disturbances will follow in quick succession which will affect West Himalayas. So it is safe to say that light snowfall will continue throughout the month of January.
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