Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 16 Feb: Weather conditions in Uttarakhand are set to change once again from tomorrow, with the Meteorological Centre forecasting light rainfall and snowfall in several hill districts. According to the forecast issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), districts including Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh are likely to receive light rain and snowfall tomorrow onwards.
As per the IMD forecast, a fresh western disturbance is expected to influence the higher reaches of the state, leading to snowfall particularly in areas situated above 3,000 metres. In the remaining parts of the state, however, weather conditions are likely to remain dry. Similar conditions are expected to persist on Wednesday, with isolated light precipitation confined to higher altitudes, while the plains and lower hills remain largely dry.
From 19 to 21 February, weather across the state is predicted to remain dry, offering a brief stable phase after the short spell of precipitation. According to weather scientists, the changing conditions in the mountainous regions are unlikely to cause any significant fluctuation in temperatures.
The IMD’s latest extended outlook indicates that while western Himalayan regions may witness intermittent cloud cover and light precipitation due to active western disturbances during this period, no major weather system is currently expected to trigger heavy rainfall or widespread snowfall. The department has not issued any severe weather warning but has advised caution for travellers and residents in higher altitude areas, where light snowfall could affect movement on roads and trekking routes.
It may be recalled that despite occasional spells of precipitation in February, the winter season so far has recorded around 27 per cent below normal rainfall in the state, according to official data. The continuing rainfall deficit has raised concerns over long-term water availability and snow accumulation in the higher Himalayas, which play a crucial role in sustaining perennial rivers during the summer months.
