NW Himalayas anticipate cooling effect as Biparjoy cyclone nears landfall
Shimla, June 13
The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a warning of the Biparjoy cyclone hitting the Gujarat peninsula region in India. Former Director of the Himachal Pradesh Meteorological Office, Manmohan Singh, stated that although the Biparjoy cyclone is not expected to directly hit the Northwestern Himalayas, it may influence the western disturbance currently active in the region.
Currently, a western disturbance in the middle tropospheric levels, with its axis at approximately 5.8 km above mean sea level along longitude 65°E to the north of latitude 27°N, may slightly intensify. Gusty winds and humid foggy weather are already prevalent in the state.
Singh mentioned that rain and thunderstorms are unlikely due to the depression caused by the cyclone, but the sweltering heatwave conditions may provide slight respite in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and parts of Punjab and Haryana.
He further stated that the inclement weather conditions resulting from the cyclone are expected to be confined to the Gujarat peninsula region and Rajasthan. However, the increasing coldwave associated with the cyclone may also affect the central and northwestern Himalayas region.
The Shimla Meteorological Office has issued a yellow alert, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms, and gusty winds (with wind speeds of 30-40 kmph) likely to occur in isolated places on June 13 and 14. Western disturbances may bring rain and summer showers to a few places in the mid and foothills, as well as isolated areas in higher reaches. Moreover, the state is likely to experience more inclement weather conditions on June 14, with rain and windstorms expected in many places in the mid and foothills, and a few places in higher reaches.
The yellow alert will continue for the next five days in the state, and temperatures are expected to remain below normal during this period.
The onset of the Southwestern Monsoon system, which usually affects the state after June 25 to 26, is expected to be delayed and below normal in the northeastern Himalayas, as previously forecasted by the IMD.
The snowy cold breeze and pleasant weather conditions are currently attracting a large number of tourists to popular resorts such as Kufri, Dalhousie, Manali, Shimla, and Dharamshala.
The Atal Tunnel Rohtang and the North Portal of the ATR to Keylong and Kaza have been opened for commuters and tourists, drawing massive footfalls during the peak summer season.
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