IMD predicts wet spells over northwest and central India, snowfall in Kashmir

Kashmir: A woman walks on a snow-covered road during season's first snowfall on the outskirts of Srinagar on Tuesday. A woman walks on a snow-covered road during season's first snowfall on the outskirts of Srinagar on Tuesday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall with thunderstormsIMD predicts rain, hailstorms in north, snowfall in Kashmir; no cold wave for 7 days over plains of northwest and adjoining central India from 7 to 9 January.

"An intense Western Disturbance is very likely to affect Northwest India from the night of 06th January, 2022 onwards. Under its influence, an induced cyclonic circulation is very likely to form over southwest Rajasthan & neighbourhood on 07th January, 2022. High moisture feeding from Arabian Sea is also very likely over northwest India during 07th to 09th January," IMD said in its bulletin.

According to the weather department, Delhi is likely to see a rainy week as two strong western disturbances may hit the region, leading to rain and thunderstorms from 5 to January 9.

According to IMD, Punjab will experience isolated heavy rainfall from 7 to 8 January and Haryana will witness heavy rainfall on January 8.

"Isolated thunderstorm activity accompanied with Hailstorms very likely over Punjab on 07th; East Uttar Pradesh, West Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan on 07th and over East Madhya Pradesh on 07th and 08th January," IMD said.

Western Himalayan Region will witness fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall and snowfall on Wednesday and scattered on January 6, the weather department said.

According to IMD, Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad will witness isolated heavy rainfall and snowfall from 7 to 9 January, Himachal Pradesh will experience heavy rainfall and snowfall from 8 to 9 January.

The weather department said that east Uttar Pradesh will witness dense Fog in isolated pockets in the night and morning hours during the next 24 hours.

"Dense fog over Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim, Odisha during next 3 days and over west Assam and Meghalaya and Tripura during next 2 days," IMD said.

Snowfall

Jammu and Kashmir experienced widespread light to moderate snowfall and rainfall with Srinagar city and its adjoining areas receiving season's first snow on Tuesday. The inclement weather led to the cancellation and delay of flights at the Srinagar airport.

Light to moderate snowfall occurred in Kashmir on Tuesday while rain lashed the Jammu division as the weather office forecast inclement weather in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh till January 9. J&K's meteorological (MeT) department has issued an 'orange alert' for Kashmir. The highest snowfall was observed in Gulmarg in north Kashmir, where 21.8cm of snow was recorded.

The meteorological department has also forecast heavy to very heavy snowfall in the high-altitude regions of Himachal Pradesh.

The higher reaches of Shimla, Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba and Kinnaur districts experienced intermittent snow spells on Tuesday morning. The District Disaster Management Authority has issued an advisory to all stakeholders of the tourism department to take precautions in the wake of the heavy snowfall warnings.

The moderate snowfall in the higher reaches also disrupted the vehicular traffic as more than 200 main and lateral roads were blocked across different high-altitude regions of Himachal.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand will witness 'heavy snowfall' in the high altitude areas of hilly districts for the next four days.

"Heavy snowfall is likely to occur at isolated places situated at a height of 3000 metres and above in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts on January 5," according to MeT office.