Freak Summer Snow Shuts Down Zojila Pass Today; Will Delhi NCR & North India Soon Get Relief?
The high elevation area around Zojila has seen a major shift in conditions after the recent snowfall and thunderstorms. These changes have affected transportation on the important Srinagar to Ladakh highway, but much of Northern India continues to experience extreme heat with temperatures over 45 degrees Celsius.
The videos that were taken from Zojila, Sonamarg, and other nearby mountain areas show the roads and hills completely covered in fresh snow despite it being late May which is an abnormal occurrence for late summer.
Why Is Snowfall Happening in May?
According to meteorologists, the reason for the recent May snowfall is attributed to a new western disturbance moving across the western Himalayan region of India and that caused the snowfall, thunder, and rain that happened in the higher elevations of the Jammu and Kashmir regions, as well as in Ladakh.
The they also said that May was unusual for Zojila due to this time usually representing the melting of the winter snow and not the accumulation of new snow, plus the fact that these abrupt cold temperature changes indicates just how unstable the Indian pre-monsoon climate has become.
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Why Zojila Pass Matters So Much
Zojila Pass is one of the most strategically important mountain passes in India. It provides the only link between the Kashmiri Valley and the Ladakh region via the Srinagar-Leh highway. There are instances where heavy snowfall at Zojila pass hampers the flow of goods and services in the area from mid-November through the end of March.
Now that fresh snowfall has accumulated throughout Zojila Pass, and has rendered the roads significantly slippery, the local authorities have instituted temporary travel restrictions, as they begin to clear the roads for vehicular traffic.
Final Words
For many areas in northern India, thunderstorms and western disturbances might offer temporary relief, but according to meteorologists, widespread and sustained coolness will benefit from an advance onto the Southwest Monsoon within the next few weeks.
FAQs
1) Why did Zojila Pass experience snowfall in May?
The latest western disturbance affected high-altitude areas of the Himalayas, which brought cold air, rain, and some snow when it moved into that area.
2) Is snowfall occurring at Zojila Pass this late in May a normal occurrence?
Yes, it is generally considered unusual for there to be snowfall in May.
3) Were there any impacts to the highway between Srinagar and Leh as a result of the recent snowfall?
Yes, the highway has been temporarily closed due to the snow and icy conditions caused by the latest western disturbance.
4) When will Delhi-NCR experience cooler temperatures?
Only limited relief through thunderstorms and strong winds is anticipated, and extreme heat is expected to continue at this time.
