Seasonal Snowfall not up to mark this year

Snowfall over the popular hill stations is the main attraction for tourists in winters. Popular choice goes with places at moderate heights of 6000 to 7000 feet like Srinagar, Shimla, Mussorie , Dalhousie, Manali and alike. Understandably the choice is more by default than by design, as locations at any further height invite very harsh weather conditions. Also, the approach and connectivity gets restricted and so consumes more travel time. Though nothing deters the ` die hards` to explore exotic and little known destinations.

So far, winter conditions have generally been dormant over most of the hill stations in terms of rain and snow. Snow in Jammu and Kashmir which is very common for at this time of the year does not reflect even a distant hope for the desired snowfall. Thus, absence of snow and its bleak prospects in the next few days may show up as a big dampener for the upcoming winter vacations. Tourists may run short of vacations to witness a usual white Christmas/ New Year over popular locations like Shimla, Mussorie and Dalhousie.

With no more cyclones over the Indian seas, winter chill over most of the hill stations is likely to get restored shortly. However a blanket of snow during this month itself may just remain wishful thinking. Rain and snow put together, Srinagar and Shimla observe a normal of about 49 mm and 23 mm precipitation respectively but so far it has been zero. Only a freak heavy spell can meet this record and the possibility of having more number of weather spells in this month look rather remote.

Photo by Mridul Batra.