Rainfall on Friday brought back cold conditions across northern India. The long dry spell in the mountain regions ended with rain and fresh snowfall.
This sudden change in weather caused a sharp drop in temperatures. The rain and snow provided relief to farmers and brought happiness to tourists planning long vacations in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Heavy Snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir
Fresh snowfall in many parts of Jammu and Kashmir led to the closure of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway. Pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on the Trikuta Hills has been temporarily suspended due to bad weather.
Popular tourist destinations received significant snowfall. Gulmarg recorded more than two feet of fresh snow. Sonamarg in Ganderbal district received over six inches, while Pahalgam in Anantnag district received around three inches.
Moderate to heavy snowfall was reported in Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Shopian, Pulwama, and Bandipora districts. Light to moderate snowfall was recorded in Anantnag and Kulgam districts.
Weather Update for Uttar Pradesh
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), people in Uttar Pradesh will get temporary relief from rain on Saturday. However, the weather is expected to change again after two days. Rain may return to many districts from January 27.
Rain and thunderstorm alerts have been issued for January 25 and 26. Drizzle is expected in Ayodhya, Basti, Sitapur, Shravasti, Bahraich, Balrampur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Hardoi, Siddharthnagar, and Maharajganj. Strong winds are also likely in these areas.
Weather Warning Issued in Rajasthan
Weather conditions have also changed in Rajasthan. The IMD has issued orange and yellow alerts for thunderstorms, rain, strong winds, and hailstorms in several districts.
A warning for dense fog and cold wave conditions has been issued starting January 25. Intermittent rain and strong winds have increased the cold across the state.
Nationwide Rain and Cold Alert
The Meteorological Department has stated that thunderstorms and rain will continue in different parts of the country over the next five days.
Heavy snowfall warnings have been issued for hilly states such as Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand.
Rain is expected in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
In Delhi, rain is not expected on January 24, but cold conditions will continue.
The maximum temperature is likely to be around 17°C, while the minimum may drop to 5°C. Rain warnings have also been issued for Tamil Nadu and Kerala. During this period, strong winds with speeds of 55 to 60 kmph are expected in several regions.
