PIONEER EDGE SERVICE/Dehradun/Jyotirmath/Bageshwar The season’s first proper rain and snowfall was witnessed in various parts of the State on Friday. While the plains and lower altitudes witnessed rain, there was snowfall in the higher reaches bringing the temperature down by a few notches. People in Dehradun awoke to light rain on Friday morning, which progressed to medium rain by the afternoon. The neighbouring hills in Mussoorie and Dhanaulty also witnessed the season’s first snowfall. According to the State Meteorological Centre, the western disturbance became active late on Thursday night resulting in snowfall in the higher reaches and light to medium rain in the plains and lower altitudes. The weather system is expected to start withdrawing on Saturday though light to medium rain and snowfall is forecast in some areas. In the next few days, the temperature is expected to drop by three to four degrees Celsius. For the next 24 hours, an orange alert has been issued for Uttarkashi, Dehradun, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Bageshwar districts considering the possibility of heavy rain and snowfall. Another western disturbance is forecast to hit the State on January 25-26, causing light to medium rain and snowfall in the higher reaches on January 27-28. Meanwhile, in the Chamoli district snowfall was reported in Badrinath, Auli and Jyotirmath in the afternoon. The local farmers and those in the tourism business welcomed the change in weather which is expected to benefit agriculture and tourism activities. More than a foot of snow was reported in Auli. Further, the rain and snowfall also extinguished forest fires reported in some parts of the district even as the temperature dropped by a few notches. Similar conditions were reported in Tehri district where Dhanaulty, Chambha and other mountainous regions witnessed snowfall. The power supply was also disrupted in some places due to the weather. In the Bageshwar district, snowfall was reported in Badiyakot and Khati which also resulted in a drop in the temperature. In Bageshwar town, the changing weather has been met with quiet optimism. Many locals believe that sustained snowfall and rainfall could bring much-needed relief to agriculture, recharge water sources and improve soil moisture ahead of the coming season.
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