Western Disturbance as an upper air trough is moving across northern parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Weather system will clear the region in the next 24hr. Light and scattered snow at few places is likely in the higher reaches of the states.
Fresh western disturbance is arriving on 29th Dec which will quickly travel across the northern mountains on 30th Dec, as well. Broadly, the whole region will find clearance , next day on the eve of new year.
Fairly widespread, light to moderate rainfall is expected across complete mountainous states of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Mid and higher reaches of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, ranging above 12,000 feet will witness snowfall. Uttrakhand may skip the snowy spell. Popular destinations like Pahalgam & Gulmarg are likely to have sleet and snow on 29th and 30th Dec, and more so on29th Dec.
Srinagar, Banihal and Qazigund may have to contend with scattered showers commencing late on 29th and clearing during night, the next day.
In Himachal, the elevated areas like Sarchu, Hanse, Kibber, Kinnar Kailash and Kalpa are expected to see some snowfall. Lower parts of the state like Mandi, Kullu, Manali and the state capital Shimla may grapple with rain and thundershowers, intense at few places, on these 2 days. State of Uttrakhand will remain a distant beneficiary, to observe least weather activity during this period.
New year eve, on the 31st Dec may disappoint the visitors at the tourist resorts of Srinagar, Manali, Shimla and Dalhousie. Much awaited, 1st snow of the season, a delight for many, may roll over to the next year. Light rainfall is also expected along the foothills of Jammu, Himachal and Uttrakhand during this period. Udhampur, Katra, Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Una, Surendernagar, Dharamshala, Dehradun, Nainital and Mussorie are likely to observe light to moderate weather activity. This may even spill over to extreme northern parts of Punjab and Haryana covering Pathankot, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ropar, Chandigarh, Panchkula and Pinjore.