With the occurrence of snowfall in various districts in the state on December 12 and 13, cold day conditions are still likely to occur at a few places in Uttarakhand on December 14. While snowfall continued in various high altitude areas, some places including Nainital received the first snowfall of the season on Friday. As the snowfall and rain caused considerable departure from normal temperatures across the state, the minimum temperature in Mukteshwar dipped below zero at -1.7 degree Celsius on Friday. Meanwhile, in view of the weather forecast, the authorities have ordered closure of all schools and Anganwadi centres in eight districts including Dehradun and Nainital on Saturday.
The director of the state meteorological centre, Bikram Singh, however said that skies might get clear in the forenoon of December 14. He informed that snowfall and rain in this season is beneficial for agricultural activities. “The weather conditions in the higher areas of the state are favourable for horticulture and agriculture so the farmers will definitely gain from the snowfall,” said Singh.
Heavy snowfall was reported in few places which are at an altitude of 2200 metres and above in Uttrakashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts. “Mussorie area, Chakrata, Nainital and Mukteshwar districts also received good amount of snowfall. According to our sources, Badrinath received around six feet of snow. Auli too received around 1.6 feet of snow,” he informed. The skies will remain partly to generally cloudy in Uttarakhand on Friday. Light rainfall/snowfall might occur in mountainous regions of Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh districts. The rest of the state will witness dry weather. The maximum and minimum temperatures in Dehradun are forecast to be about 16 degrees Celsius and seven degrees Celsius respectively with skies remaining partly cloudy today. Thunder cloud development and light showers are also possible. Meanwhile, the maximum and minimum temperatures recorded at various places in Uttarakhand on Friday were 15.8 degrees Celsius and 10.4 degrees Celsius respectively in Dehradun, 14.6 degrees Celsius and 13.2 degrees Celsius in Pantnagar, 0.2 degrees Celsius and -1.7 degree Celsius in Mukteshwar and 2.8degrees Celsius and 0.2 degrees Celsius respectively in New Tehri.
