As season’s first snow in Shimla and Manali continues for next 24 hours, it is expected to magnetize tourists to these popular hill stations. Nestled in Himachal Pradesh, Shimla and Manali witnessed snowfall on 13th December, before Srinagar did. This weather activity is definitely expected to bolster the hospitality sector of Himachal Pradesh, much before the queen of hills – Shimla - witnesses the white Christmas this year.
Unlike the norm, Shimla received season’s first snowfall during the first fortnight of December. Usually occurring during year end or at the start of the New Year, snow in Shimla follows the snowfall in Srinagar.
“In a unique occurrence, while the Western Disturbance has brought snow to Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir has only seen spells of rain. Shimla and Manali got snow but Srinagar got none at all,” says G.P. Sharma, head of Skymet’s Meteorology Division.
According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the reason behind the rain and snow is the interaction of the feeble Western Disturbance moving across Jammu and Kashmir and a cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan and adjoining areas.
Snow in Jammu and Kashmir precedes Shimla as western disturbance usually travels from northwest direction to eastwards causing heavy rain and snow in Jammu and Kashmir, followed by Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
However, this year the weather activity took a different route and travelled from northeast direction to southwestwards, skipping most parts of J&K.
The snow has not only impacted the hilly region but has intensified the cold wave conditions in the plains of North India resulting in cold days and windy situations.
