An active western disturbance lashed the northern mountains with rain and snow across the entire region. On the expected lines, Jammu & Kashmir received a bigger share, followed by Himachal Pradesh and the state of Uttrakhand, the lowest of all. Fresh and moderate snowfall was witnessed at all the popular resorts of Kashmir Valley. Gulmarg, a skiing resort in North Kashmir and Pahalgam in South Kashmir received 22cm and 03cm of snowfall. Batote, Ramban, Qazi Gund and Banihal, the entry points of Kashmir Valley received moderate to heavy rains. Banihal and Batote registered 45mm and 44mm of rainfall respectively. The interiors of Kupwara, Kukernag and Baramulla also received moderate rain and snow. Manali, Chamba and Dalhousie in the neighbouring state Himachal Pradesh recorded 30 to 45 mm of rainfall.
Plains of Punjab, Haryana and north Rajasthan recorded light winter rainfall across the region. The weather system has exited from the plains and the remnant effect is continuing across the mid and higher reaches of the mountains. It is expected to clear in the next 24 hours or so. Minimal weather activity is expected over the region till the next system approaches the hilly states, around 20th March.
A fresh spell of snow in the hills has neatly stacked a white blanket across the Pir-Panjal and Shivalik ranges. Quick clearance in the plains and a sweep of cold winds down the slopes of snow-clad mountains will have a ripple effect. The minimum temperatures have already dipped below normal by about 3-4°C at many places. Ludhiana and Jalandhar recorded 9.8°C each, far below the average. Even, the day temperatures plunged to low 20’s, about 3-4°C below normal.
Fair weather conditions are expected to prevail over plains for the next about one week. The cooling effect from the hills will trickle down to the plains over a couple of days. Both day and night temperatures are likely to stay, subpar of their averages. A pleasant morning and pleasingly warm afternoon is likely over the plains, more so, for Punjab and the northern half of Haryana. The spike in temperatures may not arrive, even after one week. Fresh western disturbance approaching the mountains will affect the plains, afresh, from 22nd March onward.