What’s the weather today: Tourism hotspots in north India brace for snow, hail and fog as western disturbance arrives

A fresh spell of active winter weather is set to affect large parts of north, northwest and central India from January 26 onwards, as a new western disturbance moves into the region, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin issued on the night of January 25. The system is expected to bring widespread rainfall and snowfall across the western Himalayan region, thunderstorms and hailstorms over adjoining plains, dense fog in several pockets, and strong squally winds over coastal waters over the next several days.According to the IMD, the evolving weather pattern will remain active at least until January 28, with another western disturbance likely to approach northwest India from the night of January 30, indicating that unsettled conditions may persist into the final days of the month.The most significant impact of the approaching system will be felt across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The IMD has forecast a fresh wet spell with fairly widespread to widespread rainfall and snowfall over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh on January 26 and 27, and over Uttarakhand on January 27 and 28. Isolated heavy rainfall and snowfall is likely over Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh on January 27, raising the possibility of temporary disruptions to road and rail traffic in higher regions. The forecast also includes lightning and squally winds, with wind speeds of 50 to 60 kmph gusting up to 70 kmph expected over parts of the western Himalayan region during this period.The department has warned of isolated hailstorm activity over Jammu and Kashmir on January 26 and 27, over Himachal Pradesh on January 27, and over Uttarakhand on January 27 and 28. Beyond the mountains, the impact of the weather system will extend across the northwestern and central plains. On January 27, scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by lightning and gusty winds is likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. East Uttar Pradesh is expected to see similar conditions on January 27 and 28. The IMD has forecast isolated light rainfall with lightning over parts of central India on January 27 and 28, while isolated light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and gusty winds is very likely over Bihar on January 28.Even as rainfall and storm activity increases, cold conditions are set to persist in several regions. The IMD has warned of dense fog during the morning and night hours in isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh till January 26, and over north Uttar Pradesh and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim till January 27.Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are likely in isolated pockets of east Rajasthan on January 26, while cold wave conditions may prevail over Himachal Pradesh and west Rajasthan on the same day. Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh could see cold wave conditions on January 26 and again between January 28 and 30.While the intensity of rainfall and storm activity is expected to decrease after January 28, isolated to scattered rainfall and snowfall may continue over the western Himalayan region in the subsequent days. The IMD has indicated that another fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from the night of January 30, which could once again revive precipitation over the region.The IMD has advised residents in affected regions to remain alert to rapidly changing weather conditions, particularly in hill districts prone to snowfall and hailstorms. With a combination of snow in the hills, thunderstorms and hail in the plains, dense fog and fluctuating temperatures, the closing week of January is set to remain meteorologically active across large parts of India. As winter systems continue to pass through the region, weather conditions are expected to remain dynamic. Closely monitor daily forecasts and warnings issued by the meteorological department.