North India Shivers Under Snow and Rain as IMD Flags Active Weather
Parts of North India witnessed heavy snowfall and rainfall in the past 24 hours, causing notable disruptions in daily life and prompting fresh weather warnings from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The downpours brought relief to polluted cities but also created travel challenges in hilly regions and plains alike.
In Jammu & Kashmir, intense snowfall forced the closure of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, suspended the Mata Vaishno Devi yatra, and led to cancellations of multiple flights. Snow depths exceeded two feet in Gulmarg, while areas such as Sonamarg saw significant accumulation, underscoring the system’s strength.
Fresh snowfall covered parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand across the western Himalayas, including popular tourist hubs such as Mussoorie and Kedarnath. While tourists enjoyed the rare winter spectacle, authorities warned of possible road blockages and risky conditions at higher altitudes.
The IMD forecast indicates that dense to very dense fog is likely over parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Rajasthan over the next few days. Cold wave conditions could persist in isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh and the plains, with scattered rainfall and light snowfall continuing through the week. Isolated heavy precipitation — including hail — is expected again towards the 27th–28th January as another western disturbance moves in.
Meteorologists urge commuters, travellers and residents to stay updated on weather updates, drive with caution in fog-affected regions, and prepare for sudden drops in temperature as winter patterns remain unsettled.
