After nearly a gap of two weeks, an active western disturbance is approaching Western Himalayas, tomorrow. Another system may also follow and get overlapped to extend the weather activity for 5-6 days over the mountains. An induced cyclonic circulation will also move across the border and get placed over Punjab, North Rajasthan and Haryana region, albeit with a lag of 48 hours. Western disturbance and circulation will complement each other to gather the pace of weather activity. The weather activity, starting tomorrow with the hills will go on till past midweek next.
Northern hills have not witnessed the desired amount of rain and snow, this season. The shortfall has taken a toll on many fronts including tourism, adventure, water management, crops, sports and over and above the ecological balance. This wet spell will, at least, save the grace. Mountains will have light snow on 17th Feb, to start with. Spread and intensity will increase and heavy snowfall is likely on 18th, 19th & 20th Feb. The peak intensity will be on 19th Feb. The weather activity will start tapering from 21st Feb and hold the post on 22nd Feb, as well. The remnant effect will be seen on the next two days, also. Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh will have heavy weather activity on two days, the 18th and 19th Feb. The state of Uttrakhand will have similar fierce activity on 19th Feb and moderate on other occasions.
All the snow spots, favourite with the tourists, will have a whiteout. A blanket of fresh and fluffy snow is expected over the popular resorts of Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Manali, Dalhousie and Shimla. Elevated peaks beyond 12,000’ will have widespread snowfall across the hilly states. Lower hills will have thunderstorms and hailstorms, accompanied by lightning strikes.
Plains of North India and foothills will start with the winter showers from 19th Feb onward. Parts of Punjab, Haryana, North Rajasthan, Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh will have fairly widespread rain and thundershowers between 19th and 21st Feb. An Isolated hailstorm is very much a possibility. Weather activity will start receding on 22nd Feb. A broad clearance is anticipated on 23rd Feb and later.
After the passage of the weather system, the winter chill makes a comeback. Mercury will drop to single digits across the region. Day temperatures will rise again to get into the mid-twenties. Shallow fog may also return in some parts, including Delhi. Chilly winds down the slopes of snow-clad mountains will surely extend the winter flavour, till the month's end.
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