North India Weather Update:
The weather has dramatically changed across Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana, with heavy rainfall and snowfall in the hills bringing a winter-like chill. Intermittent showers that began late Sunday night continued until Monday afternoon, causing the temperature in the Delhi-NCR region to drop by nearly eight degrees Celsius.
At the same time, fresh snowfall in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand has intensified the cold. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), rain is also expected today (Tuesday) in several parts of North India.
The current spell of rain and snow has been triggered by an active western disturbance, which has led to widespread precipitation across the northern plains and Himalayan regions.
In Delhi, the maximum temperature on Monday was recorded at 26.5°C, about 7.7 degrees below normal, compared to 34.1°C on Sunday. By 8:30 am on Monday, Safdarjung recorded 10.3 mm of rainfall, while Lodhi Road logged 13.2 mm. The air quality index (AQI) stood at 112, which falls in the moderate category.
Heavy rains also drenched Noida and Ghaziabad, while several cities in Punjab (Mohali, Amritsar) and Haryana (Panchkula, Hisar, Rohtak) witnessed strong showers accompanied by gusty winds. Similar conditions were reported from Bikaner, Kota, and Udaipur divisions of Rajasthan, where trees were uprooted due to stormy weather.
Snowfall and Temperature Drop in the Hills:
The western disturbance caused a steep temperature fall across the Himalayan states. In Himachal Pradesh, the maximum temperature dropped by 10 degrees, with Dharamshala recording 25°C and Keylong touching zero degrees Celsius.
The Manali-Leh highway was closed due to heavy snowfall, stranding nearly 400 tourist vehicles. In Jammu and Kashmir, snowfall was reported in Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Kulgam, turning the region into a winter wonderland.
In Uttarakhand, Kedarnath Dham experienced its first snowfall of the season on Monday, with up to one foot of snow accumulating by evening. Due to the adverse weather, heli services to Kedarnath Dham have been suspended. The Hemkund Sahib shrine is scheduled to close its doors on October 10 for the winter season.
Outlook:
The IMD has forecast continued rain and strong winds for Delhi-NCR and surrounding states over the next 24 hours. Temperatures are expected to remain below normal, marking the early onset of a winter-like chill across North India.
