This was the first time when light to moderate rainfall took place in the winter of 2020-21. Many parts of the nation ranging from the northern Indian mountains to the plains states witnessed rainfalls. Many parts of the nation including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Northwest Madhya Pradesh witnessed hail.
The Western Disturbance which is near Jammu and Kashmir is moving ahead. Humid winds originating from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea are reaching to states in Northern India.
Between January 3 and January 5, there was expected to be clouds in all states of northern India and chances of a light to moderate rain mostly with strong rain at some places.
This change in weather has caused to increase minimum temperature in all these areas.
Weather scientists are expecting that similar conditions will continue till January 7, after which these all locations will be cold as usual. The temperature will fall down from the second week of January, because of the effect of icy winds, which will cause a severe cold wave.
Kashmir and parts of Jammu division witnessed a heavy snowfall on Sunday. This abrupt change in weather caused the authorities to close the Srinagar-Jammu national highway and postpone class-11 board exams.
Sonam Lotus, director of meteorological centre based in Srinagar, said that most places of J&K witnessed moderate snowfall. He said that there are high chances that snowfall will continue till 6th January forenoon with some breaks. This might cause problems in air and road transportation. Roads in many parts of the Union Territory are covered with snow. Administration is taking help of machines to clear snow from roads. There are also many cuts in electricity because of extreme weather.
The traffic authorities have closed Srinagar-Jammu national highway. They tweeted that Jammu-Srinagar NHW has been closed for traffic movement because of heavy snowfall around Jawahar Tunnel.
Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education declared postponement of examination of students of class 11th which was scheduled.
‘Chillai Kalan’ is a period of 40-days during which intense winter takes place in Kashmir valley. This season, it started on December 21 with zero degree temperature during nights across the region. On December 19, mercury dropped to a record minus 6.6 degrees celsius in Srinagar. It was recorded as the lowest temperature of this season and the second coldest December night in the past one decade.
