New Delhi, January 24, 2026
A sharp change in weather conditions has intensified cold across North India, with heavy snowfall blanketing the Himalayan states and widespread rain affecting the plains, including Delhi-NCR, following the activation of a strong western disturbance.
❄️ Snowfall Blankets Hill States
On Friday, weather conditions deteriorated rapidly across the northern region. Heavy snowfall was recorded in several mountainous areas, turning hill towns white and disrupting transport and daily life.
Season’s first snowfall was reported in:
Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine (Jammu & Kashmir)
Shimla and Manali (Himachal Pradesh)
Mussoorie (Uttarakhand)
In higher-altitude regions, three to five feet of snow accumulated within nearly 15 hours, leading to road closures and travel disruptions.
🌧️ Rain and Cold Intensify in Delhi-NCR
In the plains, rain accompanied by strong winds led to a sharp fall in temperatures. Delhi-NCR witnessed its first rainfall of the year, causing the mercury to plunge by up to 11°C.
Maximum temperature: 16°C
Minimum temperature: 13°C
Previous day’s maximum (Thursday): 27.1°C
Dense clouds engulfed the region early in the morning, creating near-dark conditions. Rainfall measurements included:
Safdarjung & Palam: 1.3 mm
Lodhi Road: 1.6 mm
Ridge area: 1.8 mm
Light rain and drizzle continued till evening in Ghaziabad and Noida, while waterlogging and traffic congestion were reported at multiple locations.
The rainfall also provided temporary relief from pollution:
Delhi AQI: 282
Ghaziabad: 278
Noida: 270
✈️ Roads, Rail, and Air Travel Disrupted
Adverse weather conditions led to flight cancellations and train disruptions across northern India.
In Jammu & Kashmir:
Srinagar–Jammu National Highway was closed
Mughal Road and Srinagar–Leh Highway shut
Vaishno Devi pilgrimage temporarily suspended
All flights at Srinagar Airport were canceled
Five Jammu–Srinagar flights did not operate
Banihal-bound train services were suspended
Snow accumulation reached:
Up to 2 feet in Gulmarg
Heavy snow cover in Patnitop and Nathatop
🏔️ Heavy Snowfall in Uttarakhand & Himachal
In Uttarakhand, snowfall was reported in:
Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Auli, Mussoorie, Chakrata, Dhanaulti, and Uttarkashi.
In Himachal Pradesh, the long dry spell of nearly four months ended as snow and rain lashed the region.
First snowfall recorded in Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie, and Chail
520 roads, including five national highways, were closed
Flights at Kangra, Kullu, and Shimla airports were canceled
48 stranded tourists were rescued safely from Kufri, Fagu, and Raghupargarh
🌩️ Rain, Hailstorm in Uttar Pradesh and Other States
Rain and gusty winds affected several parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Ghaziabad, Noida, Meerut, Saharanpur, Shamli, Etawah, and Mathura. Winds reached speeds of 30–40 km/h, while hailstorms were reported in Jaswantnagar and Mathura.
Rain was also recorded in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, where uprooted trees and power disruptions were reported in some areas.
⚠️ IMD Issues Orange Alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for:
Snowfall in higher reaches
Rain, hailstorms, and lightning in lower regions
States under alert include:
Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and western Uttar Pradesh.
Weather conditions are expected to remain similar for the next two days, with authorities urging caution in vulnerable areas due to landslide risks, especially in six districts of Jammu & Kashmir.
