Kashmir Reels Under Intense Cold as Rain Hits North India

Sharp cold wave gripped North India on Monday as sharp temperatures plunged were reported across the states. Mild to moderate rain poured Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh whereas intense cold wave conditions have gripped Jammu and Kashmir, while weather disruption brought about some of the areas of Himachal Pradesh into snowing, while plummeting down day temperatures in the respective zones.
Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh Temperatures Fell
Maximum temperatures dipped to a low in many places in Haryana and Punjab, as rain showers lashed the states. The maximum temperature in Chandigarh plunged to a low of 13.7°C, six degrees below normal, when light rain was reported during the day, said the India Meteorological Department. Other states too recorded below-average maximum temperatures. In Haryana, maximum temperatures in Ambala, Hisar, and Karnal were between 13°C and 14.1°C. The highest temperature recorded in Punjab’s city, Patiala, was 13°C. Minimums were at the same places: Amritsar 16.4°C and Ludhiana at 14.5°C.
At several places, the minimum has not yet reached normal but is receding maximum temperatures have been doing so. While in Hisar and Rohtak the minimums remained 10.8°C and 11.8°C, in Gurugram it settled at 11.4°C. Gurdaspur has been considerably chilled with minimum 4°C in Punjab.
Kashmir remains in grip of severe cold
Temperatures remained well below freezing as Jammu and Kashmir remained in the grip of severe cold wave conditions. Srinagar saw the minimum dip to minus 3.6°C, though it was an increase of nearly four degrees from the previous night. In Pahalgam, the temperature remained at minus 5°C, which was stable from the previous night. The current weeklong cold wave has frozen several supply lines and covered the water’s surface with a thin ice.

Regional authorities have also advised tourists to follow the traffic rules as the condition is icy on the roads, especially in the higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley. The Met office has forecast a fall of 2 to 3 degrees in minimum temperatures during the next 48 hours.
Snowfall Hits Himachal Pradesh
Snowfall was seen in many parts of Himachal Pradesh, including mainly high ranges, as light snow fell in Shimla and other regions of the state. For the second time this season, snowfall occurred at the state capital. While Shimla received 8 cm of snow, Kalpa got 7 cm, and Kufri, Narkanda, Kharapathar, and Chaurdhar have snow. All these will bring much relief to local farmers and tourism news for the region. The snow will give a boon to the apple growers in the upper regions of Shimla, and it indeed gives an immense hope for the very good harvest.

But has shut as many as 30 roads, including the major highway like Attari to Leh and Gramphoo-Khab Sangam road in Kinnaur and Spiti districts. Fresh snowfall and rain continue through the week ahead. Fresh snowfall is being forecasted in mid and upper hills of Himachal for Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.

Apart from snow, the conditions of cold waves prevailed in other lower hills of Himachal Pradesh too. Una, Hamirpur, Chamba, and Mandi came under this grip. According to reports, the ‘orange’ alert has sounded by Met office for severe cold until Thursday in Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur, and Mandi. Tabo of Himachal Pradesh registered the coldest temperature since the mercury had fallen to -10.6°C.
Weather in Other States End
The western disturbance, which has been continuous, has also affected parts of Rajasthan and thus light rain and fog have been caused. 1-10 mm of rains were witnessed at places like Ganganagar, Churu, Bikaner, and Pilani. Dense fog has gripped many areas in western Rajasthan and the lowest minimum temperature is recorded at Alwar at 7.4°C. Later this week, fresh western disturbances are expected to become active, so parts of Udaipur, Kota, Ajmer, and Bharatpur divisions would be affected.

Forecast and Impacts
The IMD has predicted continued cold and wet conditions for the next few days. The western disturbance will bring more rain and snow to the western Himalayan region and adjoining plains, thus causing a gradual fall in temperatures. Light rain and snow will occur on Monday and Saturday. It will be isolated on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday. The high-altitude regions of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir will remain sub-freezing. Cold with fog conditions will prevail in the plains.

The state administration is advising the people to be watchful as North India has entered the cold wave particularly in the affected areas. The regional authorities are maintaining sharp vigil over the situation mainly over the roads that are covered with snow and ice.