Updated on March 20, 2016 11:30 AM (IST): Rain and snow to reduce over hills of North India
Heavy rains have been lashing the hills of North India for quite some time now.
While Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh have been observing heavy rainfall activity, light rain has also been witnessed over Uttarakhand.
For instance during the last 24 hours from 8:30 am on Saturday, Dharamsala received a whoppng 53.4 mm of rain, Gulmarg recorded 6 mm rain, Batote 4 mm, Manali 11 mm, Keylong 6 mm, Srinagar 2.3 mm, Shimla 5.1 mm, Dehradun 0.7 mm, Haridwar and Joshimath 1 mm each, and Tehri 0.4 mm.
Now, rainfall activity is likely to reduce from the hills as the present Western Disturbance will move away in an eastward direction.
However, isolated rainfall activity will continue to be observed over eastern parts of Jammu and Kashmir and a few areas in Himachal Pradesh.
After a break of two days, a fresh Western Disturbance will start affecting the Western Himalayas once again during the evening hours of March 23. Some rain and snow will be observed during that time.
Updated on March 19, 2016 12:45 PM (IST): Heavy rain and snow continues to mar Kashmir, weather to improve now
Heavy to extremely heavy rain and snow continued to lash Jammu and Kashmir during last 24 hours as well. While, Himachal Pradesh received light to moderate precipitation only.
Batote recorded whopping 95.6 mm of rain, followed by Banihal 69.2 mm.
National highway of Jammu-Srinagar remained closed for the traffic due to the incessant activity.
People of the hilly states are reeling under the chilly weather, with both maximum and minimum temperatures settling below normal by 2-5 degrees.
Skymet Weather predicts, the activity will continue for another 24 hours but intensity will reduce significantly. Weather will start improving by Sunday as the affecting Western Disturbance will move away from away the region in east direction.
Let us have a look at the rainfall figures recorded across the hilly region in span of 24 hours from 8:30 am on Friday.
Updated on March 18, 2016 11:45 AM (IST): Heavy rain and snow bring Kashmir and Himachal to halt, Srinagar-Jammu highway closed
As reiterated by Skymet Weather, moderate to heavy rain and snow has been lashing most parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
The incessant weather activity has brought several places of the hilly states to a standstill. Massive landslides have led to the shutdown of the arterial highway of Jammu and Srinagar for the traffic.
Reportedly, Gulmarg has recorded 11 inches of snow.
Moreover, the continuous downpour is hampering the ongoing road opening operations, leaving hundreds of people and trucks stranded on the roadside.
Meanwhile, activity in Uttarakhand was only confined to scattered light showers only.
According to Skymet Weather, the Western Disturbance is still prevailing over North Pakistan and adjoining Jammu and Kashmir. This will continue to pound more rain and snow over the hilly states for next 24 hours. Thereafter, intensity of rain will reduce but will continue on March 20 as well.
Western Disturbance is likely to move away from the region by March 21, leading to clear weather conditions with bright sunshine over the region.
However, clear weather will not last for long as we are expecting another Western Disturbance by March 24. This system is again touted to be an active one, bringing more rain and snow.
Following are the rainfall figures recorded across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in span of 24 hours from 8:30 am on Thursday.
Updated on March 17, 2016 12:15 PM (IST): Rain and snow return to Jammu and Kashmir, activity to intensify further
Fresh spell of rain and snow has returned to hills of North India. In span of 24 hours, Jammu and Kashmir has recorded fairly widespread light to moderate rain and snow.
As predicted by Skymet Weather, a fresh Western Disturbance has started affecting the weather of the state since Wednesday evening.
The system is presently marked over North Pakistan and adjoining areas and is moving in northeast direction towards Jammu and Kashmir.
As we progress further, the activity will increase both in terms of intensity and spread. The system will also start impacting the weather of more areas including Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during the next 48-72 hours.
Skymet Weather predicts fairly widespread rain and snow with isolated heavy spells over all the three hilly states.
Few places of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are also likely to witness thundersquall and hailstorm activities during this time period.
Sky will remain cloudy to overcast, leading to significant drop in day temperatures. In wake of this, people across the region will reel under chilly weather conditions.
Let us have a look at the rainfall figures recorded across Jammu and Kashmir in span of 24 hours from 8:30 am on Wednesday.
Updated on March 16, 2016 11:35 AM (IST): More rain and snow approaching North India, crop damage threat looms large
So far in the month of March, back to back active Western Disturbances have approached Western Himalayas, which have given good rain and snow over hills of North India. While, plains have witnessed fairly widespread rain and thundershowers accompanied by hailstorms.
Now as we progress further, another fresh western disturbance is seen approaching Western Himalayas and is presently marked over East Afghanistan and adjoining Pakistan.
It is expected to affect Jammu and Kashmir by tomorrow and is likely to give another good spell of rain and snow over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
The system is likely to induce a cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan and adjoining Rajasthan and Haryana.
With this, scattered rain and thundershowers along with hailstorm activity would occur over Punjab, Haryana and Northwest Parts of Uttar Pradesh. North and West Rajasthan could see some isolated showers. Chances of thundershowers or thunderstorms cannot be ruled out over Delhi too.
By March 18, most parts of hilly states including Uttarakhand will start getting good rain and snow with heavy at isolated places. Rain activity over plains will reduce significantly by March 19. However, hills will continue with the weather till March 20.
Thereafter, weather will clear up as the Western Disturbance will move away in northeast direction.
This is not all for the month, as we are expecting another Western Disturbance by March 24. Back to back Western Disturbances have given some good amount of weather over rain deficient hills and plains.
Last year, similar weather conditions prevailed over North India during March. March ended on a rainy note with some heavy showers and hailstorms, destroying standing crops across the region.
Normally, the frequency of Western Disturbances reduce by March but since 2015, we have seen significant increase both in the frequency and intensity of these systems.
Rabi crop is ready for harvesting and another spell of rains will adversely affect the major chunk of yield.
Image credit: kashmirpioneer.com
