An active western disturbance is crushing the northern mountains with harsh wintry conditions, lashing heavy rains and snow across the hilly states. Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh have been battered more than Uttrakhand in the past 24 hours. The heaviest bash of this winter season has been witnessed, troubling routine life across the mountains.
Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Batote, Bhaderwah and entry stations to the valley like Banihal and Qazigund received moderate to heavy rains. Lower hills of Himachal Pradesh like Dharamshala, Kangra and Chamba recorded 68mm, 70mm and 73mm rainfall during past 24hr. Nainital and Mussorie in Uttrakhand received first decent rains of the season. Mid and higher reaches experienced moderate to heavy snowfall. The weather activity is continuing unabated today, as well. Improvement in weather conditions, albeit for a brief period, is expected tomorrow and day after, bebore clamping again over most of these parts.
Foothills and few parts of Punjab, Haryana and West Uttar Pradesh also received light to moderate showers. Ongoing wet spell will continue today as well and extend to cover Delhi/NCR region. These conditions also will improve significantly tomorrow, once again for a short breather only.
Another western disturbance, stronger than the previous one, is arriving over Western Himalayas on 28th Jan. Like the earlier system, this disturbance also will be accompanied with an induced cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan. Under the combined influence of these systems, sphere of weather activity will expand and become intense, to cover the mountains and plains simultaneously.
Heavy rain and snowfall is likely over low and mid reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand between 28th and 30th Jan, with peak activity on 29th Jan. The scale of weather activity will result traffic disruption across the hills, on account of blockade of roads, landslides and inclement weather conditions. Travel to the popular destinations, if planned during this period, is best avoided.
Foothills and plains of Punjab, Haryana, North and East Rajasthan, Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh will be lashed with widespread rain and thundershowers, accompanied with squally winds and lightning storms. Possibility of moderate hailstorm at few places can not be ruled out during this period. Welcome rains for the farmers may be followed by the damaging hailstorms and strong gusty winds . Stormy weather conditions are expected to ease out on 31st Jan and later