Winter seems to have made an early appearance in the high mountains of Himachal Pradesh.Parts of Kinnaur received the season’s first snowfall on Saturday, with snow reported in Kuno Charang near the Tibet border, as well as Chitkul and the route towards Dumti. The higher reaches turned white as rain continued across several lower areas of the state.For the mountains, it’s a familiar sign of the season ahead. But the timing is striking. It’s still September, and much of Himachal Pradesh is seeing rain rather than snow at lower elevations.Kinnaur wasn’t the only place to get a taste of winter. Snow was also reported in parts of Uttarakhand, including around Hemkund Sahib in Chamoli district. Around half a foot of snow had accumulated around the shrine, while snowfall was also reported near Chakratirth on the Badrinath-Satopanth trekking route.
Kinnaur sees its first snow of the season
In Kinnaur, the snowfall was concentrated in the higher reaches. Chitkul, one of the well-known villages in the region, saw snow while other parts of the district continued to receive rain.The change in weather has also made conditions tougher for people living in the high mountains with their livestock. Temperatures have dropped sharply in some areas, with Kukumseri in Lahaul and Spiti recording a minimum of 5.3°C.The India Meteorological Department, meanwhile, has forecast more unsettled weather for Himachal. Its September 26 warning indicates heavy rain on Saturday, very heavy rain on Sunday and heavy rain on Monday, before conditions are expected to ease from September 29.So while the snow is already transforming the highest parts of the state, the broader weather pattern is still being driven by rain.
Uttarakhand mountains turn white too
Across the border in Uttarakhand, the snowfall brought a distinctly wintry scene to the higher reaches of Chamoli.Hemkund Sahib, located at an altitude of 4,632 metres, was covered in snow. Despite the cold, pilgrims were still visiting the shrine. The Hemkund Sahib Yatra is scheduled to continue until October 10.Snow was also reported near Chakratirth on Friday evening along the Badrinath-Satopanth trekking route. Groups camping in the area experienced the snowfall, while lower parts of Chamoli received rain instead.The contrast is striking: rain in the valleys and snow higher up, turning parts of the Himalayan landscape white while the plains are still dealing with September showers.
Heavy rain puts Char Dham travel on hold
The snowfall has arrived alongside a spell of rough weather in Uttarakhand.The India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy to very heavy rain in several parts of the state, with extremely heavy rain possible in isolated areas. The weather department has also warned of snowfall at elevations above 4,000 metres.Because of the weather warnings, the Char Dham Yatra was suspended as authorities urged pilgrims and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel. Officials have been asked to keep a close watch on pilgrimage routes, rivers, roads vulnerable to landslides and other sensitive areas.The snowfall may be a beautiful first glimpse of the season ahead, but for people travelling through the mountains, the weather is a serious reminder that conditions can change quickly at high altitude.For now, Kinnaur’s first snow is offering a striking preview of what the Himalayan winter will eventually bring. The mountains have turned white in places, even as September rain continues below.
