Mountains Await First Snow: Understanding the Delayed Winter

In an unusual turn of events, the first week of November has passed without any snowfall in Uttarakhand's Himalayan regions, where snow usually covers the mountains by now. Even the world's highest Shiva temple, Tungnath, at around 4,000 meters above sea level, has seen no snow this season.

The situation is similar at the four famous Uttarakhand pilgrimage sites—Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. These areas, typically snow-covered by early November, are experiencing temperatures similar to the plains. The Meteorological Department attributes this to a significant drop in post-monsoon rainfall, 90% below normal since September. As a result, temperatures have increased, leaving the mountains barren as winter approaches.

Reason behind delay

Vikram Singh, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Dehradun, explained that western disturbances have raised temperatures in the higher Himalayan regions by 2-3 degrees Celsius above average. "It's not as cold as usual for this time of year," Singh noted, adding that the warm daytime temperatures are delaying winter's arrival.

The lack of snow, a major winter draw, deters tourists from visiting these high-altitude regions. This absence could negatively impact tourism, as many visitors come for early snowfall and scenic winter landscapes.

The unusual weather pattern is due to less rainfall after the monsoon. Although the monsoon brought slightly more rain—about 10% more at 1,273 mm compared to the average of 1,163 mm—the sharp decline in rain after September has led to warmer conditions. Without sufficient post-monsoon rainfall, the expected cooling effect hasn’t occurred.

The Meteorological Centre forecasts a gradual drop in temperatures in the coming days. A mild western disturbance may bring light rain and snowfall to the higher mountains. As temperatures fall, snowfall chances will increase. Lower areas might also see rainfall as the cold weather sets in.

Changing weather has affected agriculture. Farmers are concerned about early winter crops like mustard and potato, which need consistent moisture. Dhanpat Kumar, Chief Agriculture Officer of Champawat, said light rainfall would benefit seed germination, but current dry conditions could hinder growth.

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