Every year in the first week of November, a round of snowfall begins in the Himalayan regions between 2000 and 4000 meters. But this time, not a single piece of snow is visible in the world's tallest Tunganath temple in Uttarakhand. Its height is about 4000 meters above sea level.
The four Dhams in Uttarakhand i.e. Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri also have a similar situation. The temperature in these areas is like that of plains. This situation has arisen due to low rainfall after monsoon.
According to the Meteorological Department, there has been 90% less rainfall than normal since September. Due to which the temperature suddenly increased. This is the reason why this part of the mountains remains deserted even in November.
Also, smog has increased in many cities in North India due to pollution. Many areas including Delhi, Sonepat, Ghaziabad, Agra recorded AQI (Air Quality Index) above 300 at 7 am.
There has been no snowfall in Tungnath so far this year. This picture is from November 2023.
Current Situation: Temperature is 2-3 degree Celsius higher due to Western Disturbance
According to Vikram Singh, director of the Meteorological Center in Dehradun, the temperature in the higher Himalayas is 2-3 degrees above normal due to the impact of the Western Disturbance. It's not as cold as it used to be these days. Heat is felt during the day.
Reason for change: Less rain after monsoon, so not cold
Normally during the monsoon season, these areas receive an average of 1163 mm of rainfall. This time 1273 mm rain has occurred. This is about 10% more. However, there has been a reversal in the climate due to insufficient rainfall after the monsoon.
Travelers may be disappointed
Now is the tourist season, how will they enjoy the snow. Tourists visiting these high altitude areas have been disappointed by the lack of snowfall. This may affect tourism during this season.
What's next: Temperatures will drop in the coming days, snow likely
Chance of snowfall According to the Meteorological Centre, the cold may start late in the hills this time. A mild western disturbance has occurred. Its effect may cause light rain and snowfall over higher mountains. After this the temperature will gradually decrease. Chances of snowfall are increasing as temperatures drop further in the coming days. Its effect can also be seen in the form of rainfall in the low lying areas.
What is AQI and why are high levels dangerous?
AQI is a type of thermometer. It works to measure pollution rather than just temperature. Through this scale, the amount of CO (Carbon Dioxide), Ozone, NO2 (Nitrogen Dioxide), PM 2.5 (Particulate Matter) and PM 10 pollution in the air is checked and shown in readings ranging from zero to 500.
The higher the amount of pollution in the air, the higher the AQI level will be. And the higher the AQI, the more dangerous the air. Although an AQI between 200 and 300 is also considered bad, the situation is such that it has gone above 300 in many cities in Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. This increasing AQI is not just a number. This is also a sign of danger of upcoming diseases.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
