Snowfall Blocks Roads and Highways in HP, IMD Issues Orange Alert

Recent snowfall in Himachal Pradesh has resulted in significant disruptions, with 60 roads and three national highways across the region being blocked, an official statement reported on Saturday. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, the closures are affecting areas in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, and Lahaul Spiti.

In response to the severe weather, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for several parts of the state, signaling potential snowfall and rain. This follows the IMD’s forecast on Friday of thunderstorms, hail, and rainfall expected to impact 10 districts over the next 48 hours. The weather service predicts, “Thunderstorms with lightning, hail, and strong wind (30-40 km/h) are very likely at isolated places over Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, Una during the next 48 hours.”

Additionally, the IMD anticipates an above-normal rainfall season nationwide during the southwest monsoon. They forecast that seasonal rainfall from June to September could reach 106 percent of the Long Period Average (LPA), influenced by moderate El Nino conditions over the equatorial Pacific region.

However, the latest projections from the Monsoon Mission Climate Forecast System (MMCFS) and other climate models suggest a potential weakening of El Nino to neutral El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions early in the monsoon season.