uttarakhand: Record heat sees rapid snow melt in Uttarakhand | India News – Times of India

DEHRADUN: The months of March and April (till date) in Uttarakhand have turned out to be the warmest in the last 30 years, according to the regional meteorological centre. The prolonged dry weather and high temperature levels have also increased the rate of snow melting in the hills. Unlike previous years, there is no snow left at high-altitude places like Badrinath and Kedarnath. Besides, snow is melting rapidly along the route of Hemkund Sahib, the revered Sikh shrine in the Garhwal Himalayas.
The regional branch of the Indian Meteorological Department said the average temperatures between March 1 and April 20 have been settling at least 5-7 degrees above normal, in both the plains and hills of Uttarakhand. The maximum temperature in Dehradun on Wednesday was recorded at 38.6°C, six notches above normal and the minimum temperature 20.6°C, three notches above normal.
This last happened in March 2004, though for a lesser duration, when temperatures remained above normal by 4-6°C for 15 days. “That year, a 100% rain deficit was recorded in March although the state got some respite after 40 mm rainfall in April, as against the expected 30 mm,” said Bikram Singh, director of the Met office. “On the basis of the data of the last 31 years, we can conclude that the months of March and April this year have been hottest, with the average temperatures settling way above normal continuously,” Singh told TOI.
High-altitude places like Badrinath and Kedarnath, which are usually covered in snow at this time of the year, have little snow left this year. SP Chamoli Shweta Choubey said, “There has been little snow left in Badrinath since the past 15 days. Due to warm conditions, snow is also melting along the Hemkund Sahib yatra route.”