Snow and Rain Sweep North India; Delhi Logs Wettest January in Four Years Amid Thunderstorms

North India experienced widespread snow and rain, severely impacting travel and lowering temperatures. Delhi recorded its wettest January in four years due to intense thunderstorms, prompting an IMD red alert. Kashmir faced heavy snowfall, leading to highway closures and flight cancellations. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand also received significant snow. While temperatures dropped, a rise of 2-4 degrees Celsius is expected across the region in the coming days, offering some relief.

North India is currently under the grip of a severe winter spell, characterized by widespread snow and rain that has significantly disrupted travel and daily life. Delhi, the national capital, recorded its wettest January in four years, accumulating 24 mm of rainfall from intense rain and thunderstorms. This prompted the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for the city.Kashmir experienced heavy snowfall, leading to the closure of the crucial Jammu–Srinagar National Highway and the cancellation of all 58 scheduled flights at Srinagar International Airport due to unsafe runway conditions. Rail services between Banihal and Budgam were also temporarily suspended, and rescue operations were conducted in Doda district for stranded individuals. Tourist destinations like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam are now covered in snow.Himachal Pradesh is under an orange alert for heavy snowfall and rain in its higher reaches, with Gondla village recording 22 cm of snow and Tabo village registering a frigid minus 8.9 degrees Celsius. Uttarakhand also witnessed fresh snowfall in high-altitude regions such as Badrinath and Kedarnath. Parts of Rajasthan received light to moderate rain, with hailstorms predicted in isolated areas. Although Delhi recorded a significantly lower maximum temperature, weather officials forecast a rise of 2 to 4 degrees Celsius across north India in the coming days, providing much-anticipated relief from the cold wave.