By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 23 Dec: The weather in Uttarakhand took a dramatic turn last night, with cloudy skies and a notable drop in temperature due to widespread snowfall. The second snowfall of the season in Chakrata has come as a delight for the tourists, while Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams were also blanketed with snow. The snowfall continued through the day today intermittently in both regions. In Dehradun, the skies remained cloudy with slight rain in some parts of the city and the district.
In high-altitude areas such as Chakrata, Lohari, Lokhandi, Moila, Devban, and Koti Kanasar, snowfall began around noon today and had already resulted in one inch of snow accumulation by the time this report was filed this evening. Weather forecasts suggest that, if these conditions persist, heavy snowfall is likely by nighttime. As Christmas and New Year approach, the ongoing snowfall and cold conditions are expected to enhance the winter experience for residents and tourists, alike, and they can experience a White Christmas in Chakrata and some other regions of the state.
Snowfall also occurred in Yamunotri Dham and nearby areas, while lower regions experienced light drizzle. The cold, intensified by rain and snow, has driven residents indoors, with many seeking warmth from fires. Snow has also been reported in Mukhba, the winter abode of Gangotri.
According to the State Weather Centre operated by the Central Government, light rain and snowfall are expected in districts such as Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Tehri, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh and Almora, including the hill areas of Dehradun. Meanwhile, other districts are likely to experience dry weather. Meteorologists warn of a significant temperature drop due to the current conditions, potentially intensifying the cold from the mountains to the plains. As per the IMD forecast, light rains are expected on Tuesday in parts of Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri and Dehradun in Garhwal and in parts of Pithoragarh, Bageshwar and Almora while the weather is expected to remain dry in other parts of the state. In Dehradun, and many other districts, light to medium rains are expected on 27 and 28 December. On 25 and 26 December, weather is expected to remain dry across the state.
On Sunday, Dehradun recorded a maximum temperature of 24.5°C, four degrees above normal, and a minimum of 7.2°C, two degrees above normal. This minimum temperature is among the highest in recent years, attributed to shifts in weather patterns and to global warming.
