North India is bracing for a deeper chill as early snow fall and icy winds grip the region. The India Meteorological Department(IMD) has forecast a further drop in minimum temperatures, promising more snow in the hills. Popular destinations like Kashmir, Kedarnath, Himachal Pradesh are set to witness heavier snow over this weekend. This rare early snowfall, which began on December 8, has already transformed these regions into winter wonderlands, drawing tourists and locals to marvel at nature’s icy spectacle.

Shimla in Himachal Pradesh recorded season’s first snow fall on December 9. According to IMD, this happened first time in the last 12 years. Besides Shimla, Snow blanketed other tourist spots like Kufri, Narkanda, Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba and Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. The neighboring Uttarakhand’s Kasauli, Mussoorie and Nainital were among the towns that recorded snowfall with the other hilly areas.

North India To Brace Deeper Chill This Weekend, Hill Stations To ‘Shiver’

Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipura, Baramulla and Gurez started seeing snow fall on December 12. According to IMD officials, sporadic snowfall continued other areas of the valley due to a fresh disturbance that has impacted Jammu and Kashmir, with heavy snowfall in higher altitudes of the valley.

 Along with the Valley, the Union Territory of Ladakh also received season’s first snow fall. Light snowfall was recorded in Kedarnath as well. Snowfall graced the Tunganath area and Madhyameshwar valley this week. There was also light drizzle in the lower areas.

While these hill stations typically see heavy snowfall every winter, recent years have brought only light snowfall, mostly towards the end of the season in January and February.

Relief To Apple Growers React?

Apart from nature lovers, the snowfall in these hilly areas has brought smiles to the faces of apple growers. It was crucial for the farmers, as the unusually high temperatures and lack of snowfall earlier in the winter, before January and February, often left them distraught with uncertainty.

Kashmir Receives Fresh Snowfall, Transforms Into Winter Wonderland; Tourist Hotspots Covered In Snow