IMD Weather Forecast: Light to moderate rainfall was also forecast for parts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
A western disturbance swept across northern India on Friday, bringing fresh snowfall to Kashmir and widespread rain to Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana. Kashmir witnessed its season’s first snowfall in several areas, accompanied by a slight rise in minimum temperatures. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast isolated light rain and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir until December 30.
Incessant rains continued to lash parts of Delhi in the early hours of Saturday. The national capital recorded its highest December rainfall in 15 years, with the day temperature plunging to 14.6°C. Light to moderate rainfall was also forecast for parts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Rainfall and a hailstorm in Chandigarh lowered the maximum temperature to 15.9°C, while dense fog and rain in Rajasthan intensified cold conditions and disrupted visibility.
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Delhi-NCR continues to witness heavy rainfall
Delhi witnessed incessant rainfall on Friday and Saturday causing significant disruptions. The rainfall brought temporary relief from pollution but added to the city’s infrastructural challenges. Heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds uprooted trees and led to road cave-ins in some parts. IMD has predicted moderate to heavy rainfall with thunderstorms across Delhi and NCR, impacting areas like Palam, Safdarjung, IGI Airport, Mehrauli, Gurugram, and Faridabad.
Temperatures in Delhi ranged from 12°C to 19°C on Saturday. The city recorded its highest December rainfall in 15 years, improving air quality slightly but leaving it in the “very poor” category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 355 as of 2 PM. AQI levels varied across the city, with Anand Vihar at 390 and Punjabi Bagh at 361.
Heavy snowfall in Himachal
The weather department has issued an orange alert for heavy snowfall and cold waves in Himachal Pradesh on December 28. Six districts—Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, and Kinnaur—experienced heavy rainfall and snowfall.
Starting December 29, a renewed cold wave will impact plains like Bilaspur, Hamirpur, and Una, with severe cold conditions expected in these areas and districts such as Mandi, Kullu, and Chamba until January 1. Dense fog on January 1 may further reduce visibility and complicate travel. Shimla recorded a temperature of 5°C on Friday, with a slight rise anticipated on December 28. However, temperatures are expected to drop significantly after December 29.
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Season’s first snowfall in Srinagar, parts of Kashmir
Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir’s plains experienced their first snowfall of the season on Friday, breaking a prolonged dry spell. Light to moderate snowfall occurred across the valley due to a western disturbance, with the higher reaches receiving snow earlier in the day and plains, including Srinagar, seeing snow by the afternoon.
Popular tourist spots like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam, along with areas in Bandipora, Baramulla, and Kupwara districts, also reported fresh snowfall. The weather is expected to improve by Saturday forenoon. Despite a slight increase in nighttime temperatures, minimum and maximum temperatures across the valley remained several degrees below freezing, maintaining intense cold conditions below the seasonal norm.
