Heavy rain, snow and cold grips North India, temperatures up to 10 °C (18 °F) below normal

Heavy rain, snow and cold conditions have gripped all three hilly states on North India on January 5 and 6, 2019, with temperatures settling 8 – 10 °C (15 – 18 °F) degrees below normal.

Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh as well as Uttarakhand have been witnessing rain and snow over the past couple of days, Skymet Weather meteorologists report.

Almost all the well-known hilly resorts and cities including Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Srinagar, Shimla, Manali, Kullu, Dharamsala, Dalhousie, Nainital, Mussoorie, Kufri, Rohtang Pass, Leh, Kupwara, Nahan, Keylong, and many others experienced a fair amount of rain and snow. 

A high-desert city of Leh, Jammu and Kashmir recorded its maximums at -1.5 °C (29.3 °F) during the last 24 hours. Gulmarg recorded its minimums at -9 °C (15.8 °F), Pahalgam at -4.9 °C (23.1 °F) and Srinagar at -2 °C (28.4 °F).

While snow and rain are expected to ease off on January 9 and 10, another active system is expected to affect the region from Friday, January 11 to Sunday, January 13, bringing widespread rain and snow.

"Talking about intensity, the weather activity will be at its extreme on January 12, slightly reduce on 13 and by January 14, we can expect slight chances of clearance of weather. However, chances of long clearance are completely ruled out," meteorologists said.

Tourists are advised to avoid going to the hills this weekend due to the upcoming spell of rain and snowfall.

Featured image credit: NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP/VIIRS. Acquired January 7, 2019.