After witnessing record breaking snow and rain for the last four days, the hilly states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will now witness good weather conditions.
As the Western Disturbance moves away, the region will observe clear sky for next three to four days. As a result, hilly states will observe a pleasant weekend ahead, after three successive rainy weekends. However, the remnants of the system might give isolated light rain over the region.
In a span of last 24 hours, from 8.30 am on Tuesday Banihal in Jammu and Kashmir recorded 66.1 mm of precipitation, Bhadarwah 53.8 mm, Batote 49.2 mm, Pahalgam 36.4 mm, Srinagar 23.8 mm and Gulmarg 21.2 mm. In Himachal Pradesh, Bilaspur received 20 mm of rain, Dharamsala 24.8 mm, Shimla 18.6 mm, Hamirpur 18 mm, Manali 17.6 mm, Solan 17.5 mm, Kullu 8 mm and Kalpa 8 mm of rain.
In wake of the system, maximum temperatures across the states have been settling below normal by 9 to 13 degrees. On Monday, Srinagar saw the maximum settle at 1.8°C, which was 11 degrees below normal, Banihal recorded 1.2°C, 13 degrees below normal, Batote 1.4°C, 14 degrees below normal, Bhaderwah 1°C, 15 degrees below normal and Pahalgam 1.2°C, nine degrees below normal.
Meanwhile, minimums too have been settling at sub-zero levels, which is very unlikely during March.
According to the latest forecast by Skymet, day temperatures will register a significant rise as the system moves away. However, minimum temperatures are expected to either sustain or even take a further dip because of the chilly winds blowing over the region after snowfall and absence of any weather activity.
Another Western Disturbance is expected to affect North India by March 21, which will once again cause rain and snow over the hilly states.
Western Disturbances are quite frequent during the winter season that affect the weather to quite a large extent. The areas affected by this system usually receive short spell of rain for a day or two. Due to its movement from east to west, it is called Western Disturbance.
