Heavy Rain and Snow Alert in Seven Uttarakhand Districts: Today’s Weather Update

Dehradun: The changing weather in Uttarakhand is causing both scenic beauty and difficulties for residents. In Chamoli district, a severe snowstorm has caused significant damage, blowing away rooftops in villages such as Ghamshali and Kosa in the Niti Valley.

Rashmi Khatri, Dehradun: Uttarakhand’s weather has shifted once again, with rainfall beginning Tuesday afternoon and continuing into Wednesday morning. Authorities have issued an orange alert for heavy rain and snowfall in seven districts today. In response, district officials have declared holidays for schools and anganwadi centers in the affected areas.

In Dehradun, the weather changed suddenly after Tuesday noon, with strong winds followed by rain, interspersed with brief sunny spells. The cold intensified during morning and evening hours, with temperatures dropping 2–4°C. Overnight, the rain resumed.

According to the Meteorological Centre, Wednesday will see partly cloudy skies with occasional sunny intervals in Dehradun and surrounding regions, along with chances of localized thunderstorms. Gusty winds may reach speeds of 40 km/h in lower areas. Light snowfall is expected in regions above 2,500 meters, after which dry weather is likely from Thursday onward.

Kedarnath Records Heavy Snowfall
Meanwhile, continuous rain at Kedarnath Dham for the second consecutive day has resulted in nearly 2 feet of snow, with temperatures plummeting to -15°C. Despite the severe cold, security arrangements around the temple remain fully operational. ITBP and police personnel are on duty, ensuring the safety of the shrine amidst heavy snowfall.

Snowfall has also affected other high-altitude areas such as Tungnath, Madhmaheshwar, and Trijuginarayan, lowering temperatures by 3–4°C. For Wednesday, authorities have issued heavy rain and snowfall warnings for Pauri, Rudraprayag, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Udham Singh Nagar, Pithoragarh, and Almora districts.

Avalanche Warnings in Five Districts
The Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE), Chandigarh, has issued avalanche warnings for high Himalayan regions in five districts. Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Rudraprayag have been placed under Orange Category, indicating the risk of medium-sized avalanches that may reach valley floors. Pithoragarh falls under Yellow Category, with a likelihood of small avalanches, while Bageshwar is under Green Category, where snow is generally stable but may shift locally.

Officials have been instructed to maintain vigilant monitoring, especially in sensitive areas, and provide timely warnings to residents as necessary. Authorities are also advised to keep track of snowfall and avalanche conditions day and night, watch for snow slips during travel, and exercise extreme caution in previously avalanche-prone zones.