Weather in Himachal: Rain & snowfall expected from 19th-20th February

The weather in Himachal Pradesh will worsen from tomorrow night as a Western Disturbance (WD) becomes active in the region. This system will impact the state for the next few days, bringing chances of rain and snowfall, particularly on February 20.

The Meteorological Department forecasts deteriorating weather on February 19 with rainfall and snowfall in many areas. The long dry spell affecting the state is expected to break on February 20. The WD is forecast to weaken on February 21, although bad weather is expected in higher altitude areas.

The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms in all ten districts of Himachal Pradesh, excluding Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti, for February 20. Additional yellow alerts are for Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Chamba, and Kangra districts on February 19.

Due to snow and rain, travel disruptions are expected, including bus service closures to the Atal Tunnel Rohtang and Jalori Pass.

Farmers, gardeners, and tourism businesses in Himachal are concerned about the lack of rain and snowfall. The prolonged dry spell has impacted apple orchards and crops. Furthermore, tourism has been severely hit, with fewer visitors.

The state has a significant rainfall deficit, recording 79% less than normal this winter. From January 1 to February 17, the state received only 29.6 mm of rain, compared to the usual 139.2 mm.

Light snowfall occurred on some of the state’s higher peaks, including Rohtang, Shinkula, and Baralacha, while the rest of the region saw cloudy conditions. This led to a drop in temperatures, with maximum temperatures falling by 2 to 4.5 degrees Celsius.

Further snowfall is expected today in higher altitudes, and the Western Disturbance will remain active until February 23, bringing more rain and snowfall to the state.

In Dalhousie, a popular Himachal tourist destination, the lack of snowfall has caused a significant decline in tourist arrivals. Markets and tourist spots, once bustling, are now quiet. While tourism businesses thrived in early January, the absence of fresh snow has caused a drop in visitors, and hotel occupancy is low at around 20-30%. However, local businesses remain hopeful that favourable weather and fresh snowfall will bring tourists back.

The state’s minimum temperatures have dropped, with recorded lows of -6.8°C in Tabo, -6.1°C in Keylong, and -3.2°C in Kukumseri. As the weather worsens, temperatures are expected to drop further in the coming days.

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