The Western Himalayas, typically battered by frequent Western Disturbances from November to March, have seen an unusual continuation of these weather systems into April. While the peak intensity usually occurs during December and January, the past few months have witnessed a subdued presence of these disturbances. However, February and March saw decent snowfall, and even now, in April, moderate rainfall and isolated snowfall linger over the higher reaches of the region.
This anomaly can be attributed to the sun's northward migration. As the sun travels towards the Northern Hemisphere, weather systems, including Western Disturbances, tend to shift towards higher latitudes, consequently leaving the Western Himalayas behind.
However, defying expectations, a Western Disturbance currently sits over Jammu and Kashmir, with another brewing over Afghanistan and adjoining areas. This combination is expected to bring light to moderate rain and snowfall, with the possibility of isolated heavy spells, across the Western Himalayas until April 29th.
While the region won't experience complete dryness even after that, the first week of May is likely to see isolated light rain, with one or two moderate spells. It's important to note that the impact of these disturbances will be minimal on the plains, with only isolated rainfall expected over North Punjab and North Haryana in the coming days. Most of Northwest India will remain dry and hot.
This unexpected extension of Western Disturbance activity into April highlights the ever-changing nature of weather patterns. While the peak season for these disturbances has passed, their lingering presence provides a welcome surprise for those in the Western Himalayas, especially those dependent on snowmelt for water resources.
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