Cold wave is catching up with hilly states of North India. Tourist destinations in the mid- reaches of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are in the grip of cold wave conditions, severe at places. Cold wave conditions will continue for the next 5 days and possibly abate with the arrival of a western disturbance.
Tourist attraction, Gulmarg has recorded minimum temperature of -10°C today, 1st sub zero double digit of this season. Temperature has plunged 6°C below the normal amounting to severe cold wave conditions. The other tourist destination of Pahalgam also plummeted 5°C below the average at -6.9°C. The entire Kashmir valley is reeling under severe cold ahead of ‘Chillai Kalan’, all set to begin from 21stDecember 2021. Complete Ladakh region is witnessing severe cold with Leh(-15°C), Kargil (-12°C), Skardu( -9°C) and Diskit Nubra (-15°C).
Mid- reaches of Himachal Pradesh also have dropped below zero to remain 5-6°C below the normal. Kalpa measured -6°C and Keylong -7.9°C, today morning to stay at 4-5°C below the average. Shimla, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh dipped below freeze, 1st time in this season, albeit a little early. The city recorded -0.2°C with a fall of over 2°C since yesterdays measure of 2.1°C. Dalhousie, Kullu and Manali have also joined the club of ‘freeze’ with minimum temperature of -1°C to -2°C. Popular destinations of Nainital and Mussorie in Uttrakhand wait in the wings to go sub zero this season.
An active western disturbance is arriving on 22nd December. Wide spread rain and snow is likely across the entire hilly states of North India. Weather activity will extend to cover plains also. Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh will get the season’s 1st widespread rainy spell. The activity over North India will get prolonged from 22nd Dec to 26thDec. Possibly, it is going to be white Christmas for the popular destinations of the hills and soaked with rains for most parts of North India.
