Dehradun and other parts of the Himalayan state are experiencing a sudden change in weather conditions, with rain and snowfall lashing the region. While snowfall has been reported in areas above 3,500 metres, like Kedarnath, the weather department predicts snowfall in areas close to the 3,000-metre mark from Monday onwards. According to the Met office, this change in weather conditions is likely to continue in the state until next week.
This unexpected spell of rain and snowfall has brought down the mercury by 5 to 6 degrees Celsius, leading to winter-like weather conditions in mid-March.
On Saturday, the maximum temperature was in the range of 17 to 19 degrees Celsius in plain areas like Dehradun and Haridwar, while in the summer capital Gairsain and Uttarkashi, the maximum temperature was less than 15 degrees Celsius. Director of Dehradun Met centre Bikram Singh has stated that while the rain activity is low and scattered on Sunday, it is expected to gain pace from Monday and continue till March 21. It would slow down again on March 22, and another spell of rain is expected on March 23 and 24.
While this unexpected spell of rain and snowfall has caused disruptions in the region, it has also brought good news for the horticulture sector and hill areas, where the sowing of crops is done late. The rain is expected to provide much-needed moisture to the soil and benefit the crops.
Moreover, a good spell of rain in March is likely to help in preventing instances of forest fires in the hills of the Himalayan state. In a month, from February 15 to March 15 this year, over 100 hectares of forest cover had been affected by wildfires. However, the week-long spell of rain is expected to douse the fire.
While this sudden change in weather conditions may have caught many off guard, it is a welcome relief for the people of the region who were battling high temperatures and dry weather conditions. The rain and snowfall are expected to provide much-needed relief to the region and bring respite from the scorching heat that the region was experiencing until recently.