New Delhi: Unseasonal snowfall has arrived in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, bringing wintry conditions to the mountains as the southwest monsoon prepares to withdraw from India.
The season’s first snowfall covered the upper reaches of the famous Gulmarg ski resort in Kashmir on Thursday. Areas around Apharwat and Gondola Phase 2 received snow during the night, officials said.
A thin layer of snow covered the higher slopes, transforming the popular tourist destination into a winter-like landscape. Snowfall was also reported from Tulail Valley and Kabuli Gali in the frontier Gurez sector of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
Officials said light snowfall was recorded in a few other higher-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir as well.
The snowfall came alongside widespread rain across the valley’s plains. Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir Valley received overnight rain, with the Meteorological Department forecasting fairly widespread light rain or thunderstorms across Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
However, the weather is expected to turn mainly dry from Friday, according to the forecast.
The wintry conditions were not restricted to Kashmir. Higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh also witnessed light snowfall on Thursday, while several parts of the state received rain, causing temperatures to fall by a few degrees.
Light snowfall was reported from the Rohtang Pass area of Kullu district, while light to moderate rain affected several locations, including Shimla.
The sudden snowfall and rain come as India’s weather pattern undergoes a seasonal transition. The southwest monsoon is gradually losing its grip over the country, with conditions becoming increasingly favourable for its withdrawal from northwest India.
The India Meteorological Department has indicated that the monsoon could begin withdrawing from parts of west Rajasthan around September 19.
As the monsoon retreats, weather systems and atmospheric circulation patterns over northern India begin to change, allowing cooler conditions to emerge over the higher Himalayan reaches.
For the mountain regions, the first snowfall is an early reminder that winter is beginning to make its presence felt at higher elevations, even as much of the rest of India remains under the influence of late-monsoon weather.
For tourists and residents, the fresh snow has brought a dramatic change in the landscape, while for meteorologists, it is another sign of changing weather conditions accompanying the transition from monsoon to winter.
