March 05, 2025
Dry Winter Followed by Late, Heavy Snowfall — Recipe for Disaster
No snow -> No glaciers -> No rivers -> No water for millions downstream
What's happening?
Jammu & Kashmir experienced an almost snowless Chillai Kalan (the 40-day harsh cold spell), then received 311% excess precipitation within 24 hours on February 27, causing river overflow and highway closures.
Similarly, Uttarakhand had only 9% normal rainfall, then received 37.1 mm within 24 hours starting February 27.
Snowfall is shifting to February-March instead of December-January. Late snow on warmer ground creates weak snow layers, increasing avalanche risk. Snow melting quickly prevents glacier formation.
Why should you care?
These trends threaten more frequent and intense flash floods, avalanches, landslides, and glacier retreat across the Himalayas.
Glacier retreat has consequences far beyond the mountains — it affects water security for the entire Indo-Gangetic plain that depends on glacier-fed rivers.