Weather Warning: Severe Snowfall, Rain & Thunderstorms across North India; Avalanche Alert for Uttarakhand

A Western Disturbance (WD), accompanied by a cyclonic circulation, has triggered widespread snowfall as well as rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir. Probabilities of severe thunderstorms in these regions are also high.

Meanwhile, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and some parts of Uttar Pradesh will witness moderate to heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms.

The temperature in National capital region is expected to drop below 18-degree Celsius today with heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, strong surface wind with a speed ranging from 20-30 kmph gusting to 40 kmph is expected to blow over the northwest plains of India for the next 2-3 days.

According to the India Meteorological Department, maximum temperatures today were recorded above normal i.e. 5.1°C or more at many places in Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, West Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and West Madhya Pradesh. Decreased visibility because of fog in Delhi and in the neighboring areas on led to disruption in train services at New Delhi Railway Station on 21st January. At least 11 trains were delayed today morning due to fog.

Avalanche warning has been issued for Uttarakashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Tehri Garhwal. Heavy Snowfall has been reported from various parts of Uttarakhand including Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri etc. Schools will remain closed in Haridwar, Udhamsingh Nagar, and Dehradun today as a precautionary measure.

The Meteorological department has also predicted that Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, northern Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh will experience isolated hailstorms while Sikkim will face isolated snow.

There will be scattered rain with thunderstorms in the eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh as this area will serve as a meeting point for south-westerly winds from the Arabian Sea as well as south-easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal. Madhya Pradesh on the other hand will get isolated rain.

Maximum temperatures in northern India and some parts of central India will be lower than normal. Southern part of the country will be covered by isolated dense fog. Remaining part of India will remain dry.