Weather to change again: Snowfall alert for mountains and rain in plains from February 1, four feet of snow in Kedarnath

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Weather conditions across north India have turned severe once again. Daily life is being affected by dense fog and intense cold in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, while the risk of avalanches has increased in Himachal Pradesh. In Uttarakhand, heavy snowfall has blocked several roads and disrupted normal movement.

Dense fog continues to cover Delhi during morning hours, sharply reducing visibility and affecting road, rail and air traffic. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a cold wave warning. Minimum temperatures are being recorded between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius, while maximum temperatures are likely to remain between 17 and 20 degrees.

Similar conditions prevail in many districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Noida and Saharanpur. Western and central parts of the state are witnessing dense fog during morning and evening hours, intensifying the cold.

In Himachal Pradesh, avalanches were reported at three locations in the Bharmour and Pangi areas of Chamba district. Late-night avalanches buried three shops and two pickup vehicles, though no casualties were reported as no one was present at the time. Snow, stones and debris have accumulated around the affected structures.

In Sirmaur district’s Haripurdhar area, a tourist car slipped on snow and fell into a field, killing Jagpal, a resident of Panchkula in Haryana. Meanwhile, on the Chamba–Pathankot national highway, a rockslide caused a boulder to fall on a moving Scorpio vehicle, damaging it and leaving the driver with minor injuries. In Manali, police teams helped rescue stranded tourist vehicles. Around 400 vehicles heading towards Solang Nala were stuck near Nag Temple and were later safely cleared.

Tourist destinations in Uttarakhand continue to see heavy footfall. Dhanaulti, Auli, Buranshkanda, Kanatal and Tehri are witnessing steady tourist movement. Due to snowfall, more than two dozen roads across the state have been blocked. Kedarnath has recorded three to four feet of snow accumulation. ITBP and police personnel deployed at the shrine are engaged in clearing snow from rooftops of residential buildings.

Water supply and electricity services have also been affected in several areas. Teams from the Border Roads Organisation and the Public Works Department are working to restore connectivity. According to the weather department, light snowfall and rain are likely in the mountainous regions on Thursday.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Jammu–Srinagar national highway, which remained closed for two days due to heavy snowfall and slippery conditions, was partially reopened on Wednesday, allowing stranded vehicles to move. Flight operations from Srinagar International Airport also resumed after weather conditions improved.

In Kishtwar district, a major landslide near Hasti Bridge buried dozens of cattle, though a group of shepherds escaped safely. In Kulgam, a 32-year-old man died of suffocation while sleeping in a car with a heater on. A heavy avalanche struck the Sonamarg tourist area in Ganderbal district on Tuesday night, with snow entering houses and hotels and damaging several parked vehicles. No loss of life was reported. Authorities have warned that further snowfall is likely in the region.

Hailstorms were reported in parts of western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and central Maharashtra. Eastern Uttar Pradesh experienced strong winds with speeds ranging from 30 to 95 kmph. Dense to very dense fog was recorded in Punjab, western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, with visibility dropping to as low as 50 metres.

Amritsar in Punjab recorded the lowest minimum temperature among plains at 3.7 degrees Celsius. According to the IMD, a western disturbance may become active between January 31 and February 2, affecting weather conditions across the western Himalayan region and parts of northwest India.

Although weather conditions in Uttarakhand have temporarily improved after heavy rain and snowfall, making way for sunshine from hills to plains, challenges persist in mountainous areas. From Saturday, weather is expected to change again. Light rain and snowfall may occur in higher reaches of Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh, while plains are expected to remain dry.

Between January 31 and February 1, another shift in weather is likely. Cloud cover, strong winds and a fresh spell of rain may affect several regions, bringing rainfall to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi-NCR on February 1.