The hill states of North India that comprise of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand had received good amounts of rain during the Monsoon season. The rainfall in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand ended at a deficiency of 10% and 18%, respectively which is considered normal in Meteorological terms (+/-19 is normal rains). Occasional heavy rain was also observed in several parts of the states.
Transition Period
This is the period (June to September) when tourism takes a blow in the hills due to fear of landslides, mudslides and road blockages. But come October - a transition period from Monsoon to Winter - the weather in the hills starts to change. You can feel a nip in the air and nights start to become cold enough to force you to wear jackets and sweaters.
And as November sets in, winter officially begins. The day and night temperatures that were already on a declining trend since October drop further. For instance, the average day temperature of Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh and an extremely popular tourist destination, for the month of November is 10 degrees which is a drop of almost 6 degrees from October average of 16 degrees. The average night temperature, on the other hand, becomes extremely cold in November to settle at 6 degrees.
Western Disturbances Behind Snowfall
November is also the month of Western Disturbances - weather system vital in giving rain and snow in the region- starting to appear and becoming more frequent in December. In fact, a couple of Western Disturbances in October itself have caused light snowfall in the higher reaches of the hills.
According to the weather models the winter season in the hill states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand this year is likely to show its colours in terms of extreme cold and good snowfall. It is also expected that the amount of snowfall could exceed what was seen last year. Briefly talking, it should also be a good year for people looking to explore the hills for some snowfall.
Peak Snowfall Months
December, January and February are the peak months of snowfall in the northern hills. During a good winter season, it spills into the months of March and April, sometimes into May. The higher reaches like that of Rohtang Pass observe snowfall for a little longer period, until May.
According to the weather models, winter season this year is going to throw up some surprises in terms of good precipitation.
Image Credit: Holidify.com
Any information picked up from here should be attributed to Skymet Weather
