By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 2 Apr: The Indian Meteorological (IMD)’s state weather centre in Dehradun has issued a weather alert till 8 April, predicting widespread rainfall across the state during this period. According to the forecast, mild rainfall will occur in selected districts on some days, while on others the entire state will witness heavy rainfall. The department has indicated that from tomorrow till 8 April, varying intensities of rain and snowfall will affect both the plains and the hills in Uttarakhand.
IMD has predicted that rainfall is expected in 12 out of the 13 districts of Uttarakhand, with only Udham Singh Nagar likely to remain dry. The hill districts will experience rain accompanied by snowfall at elevations of 3,500 metres and above. At the same time, districts including Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh are likely to receive light to moderate showers, while other hill districts and Haridwar may see very light showers.
On 4 April (Saturday), rainfall is likely to cover the entire state. Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh are expected to receive light to moderate showers at numerous places, prompting the issue of an orange alert. Other hill districts are also likely to receive rain, with snowfall expected at altitudes of 3,300 metres and above. Even Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar are likely to receive showers as per the forecast issued by the IMD.
On 5 April (Sunday), light to moderate rainfall is expected across all districts of Uttarakhand. Snowfall will occur in the hill districts at elevations of 3,300 metres and above, while the plains may see very light to light showers at scattered locations. The pattern will continue into Monday, 6 April, though with slight variation. On Monday, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh are likely to again receive light to moderate rainfall, with snowfall at 3,300 metres and above. Other hill districts are expected to experience rain with snowfall at 3,500 metres and above, while the plains will have very light to light showers.
On Tuesday, 7 April, rainfall is predicted in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh, with light to moderate showers at some places. Snowfall may occur at elevations of 3,500 metres and above. Other hill districts are also expected to receive rain accompanied by snowfall at similar altitudes. Finally, on Wednesday, 8 April, rainfall has been predicted to cover the entire state. Hill districts will see light to moderate showers, while the plains have been predicted to experience very light to light rainfall at scattered locations.
The Meteorological Department has further stated that maximum temperatures are likely to rise by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius over the next one to two days, followed by a fall of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in the subsequent two to three days. This prolonged spell of rain and snow is expected to impact daily life, particularly in the higher reaches, where snowfall may disrupt movement and routine activities and the final preparations for Char Dham Yatra. IMD has alerted the residents, the tourists and the authorities to remain prepared for changing weather conditions across Uttarakhand over next few days.
