IMD issues 'orange' alert for heavy rain and snowfall in J-K, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an "orange" alert, cautioning about heavy rainfall and potential snowfall in regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh over the next two to three days. This alert is due to an intense western disturbance affecting the area.

The impact of this intense western disturbance extends to several states, including Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, western parts of Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi-NCR. These areas are anticipated to receive showers along with thunderstorms and lightning during this period, all under the influence of the western disturbance.

Furthermore, a cyclonic circulation has emerged over central Pakistan and adjacent regions. It is likely to strengthen and could merge with a fresh western disturbance on Sunday, according to the IMD.

First intense western disturbance of the season

This is the first intense western disturbance of the season, and it will continue to affect northwest and central India until next Tuesday. Western disturbances are weather systems originating in the Mediterranean region, and they bring unseasonal downpours to northwest India.

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Temperature changes expected

Once the western disturbance passes, dry northwesterly winds from the Himalayas are expected to prevail over the northwestern region. This will result in a temperature drop of 2 to 4 degrees from October 17 onwards in the region.

Earlier this week, higher elevations in Himachal Pradesh, including Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts, experienced mild snowfall. Additionally, lower hilly areas witnessed severe thunderstorms with intense rainfall.

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Meanwhile, the monsoon has further receded from many parts of India, including Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and North Interior Karnataka. These changes in weather patterns are impacting various regions of India, bringing both challenges and relief.