Himachal Pradesh experienced rain and hailstorm, accompanied by lightning, which affected various regions including the popular tourist spots of Manali and Shimla. This severe weather condition resulted in the uprooting of trees and caused damage to vehicles in the area.
Himachal Pradesh experienced a disturbance in regular activities on Saturday due to snowfall in the higher regions and rainfall in the mid and lower hills. This led to the closure of 104 roads and three national highways.
The transportation of vehicles towards Keylong was halted as a result of a significant landslide occurring at the Selfie Point near Sissu on the Manali-Keylong highway. The state emergency operation center has reported that a total of 104 roads, with 99 of them located in Lahaul and Spiti, have been closed due to heavy snowfall. Notably, roads such as Gramphu-Losar, Darcha-Sarchu, and Rohtang Pass have been obstructed in the region of Lahaul and Spiti.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has dispatched its personnel and machinery to eliminate the obstructions, anticipating the restoration of traffic within the upcoming two to three hours.
In the meantime, the India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning at isolated locations on April 22 and 23 in various regions of Himachal Pradesh. The yellow alert signifies the occurrence of extremely adverse weather conditions persisting over multiple days. Furthermore, it implies that the weather may deteriorate, leading to disturbances in routine activities.
IMD’s latest forecast indicates that the seasonal rainfall between June and September is anticipated to surpass the usual levels, with estimations suggesting it could potentially reach 106 percent of the Long Period Average (LPA). The LPA for the period spanning from 1971 to 2020 is documented at 87 cm.
IMD’s declaration arrives in the midst of the existing moderate El Nino circumstances across the equatorial Pacific area. Nevertheless, the most recent forecasts derived from the Monsoon Mission Climate Forecast System and alternative climate models indicate a decline in the El Nino condition, transitioning towards neutral El Nino Southern Oscillation conditions during the initial phase of the monsoon season.
IMD has stated in a press release that the snow cover extent in the northern hemisphere has been lower than the average during the period of January to March 2024. This departure from the usual snow cover extent has the potential to impact weather patterns, particularly the upcoming monsoon season.
