Uttarakhand Sees First Snowfall of 2026, Covering High-Altitude Areas with Thick Snow

Uttarakhand has welcomed its first snowfall of 2026, covering high-altitude areas in a thick layer of snow. This weather change has delighted locals and tourists while also impacting daily life due to continuous rain and snow.

Uttarakhand experienced its first snowfall of the year on Friday, blanketing high-altitude areas with snow. Officials reported that continuous rain in lower regions, including Dehradun, intensified the cold. Heavy snowfall was recorded in Garhwal and Kumaon divisions, covering places like Badrinath, Kedarnath, and Mussoorie. High-altitude spots such as China Peak and Kilbury in Nainital also received snow.

The weather change brought joy to locals, tourists, and business owners. Many shared videos online showing snow-covered roads and trees. Tourists were seen enjoying the snowfall on Mall Road in Mussoorie. However, the persistent snow and rain disrupted daily life, blocking roads and cutting power in several areas.

Impact on Daily Life and Travel

Snow accumulation led to road closures, including the Joshimath-Auli route to the National Skiing Centre in Chamoli district. The Rudraprayag-Pokhri-Gopeshwar road was also shut. Authorities are working to clear snow from roads to restore traffic flow. The Chamoli district administration advised against unnecessary travel during this period.

In Uttarkashi district, snowfall in Barkot, Purola, and Mori damaged power lines near Raditop, causing outages. The Meteorological Department issued an 'orange alert' for snowfall in higher regions and rain in lower areas. Strong winds and hailstorms are expected in some locations.

Temperature Drop and School Closures

The cold weather prompted people to stay indoors as temperatures dropped significantly. In Dehradun, the maximum temperature fell to 14 degrees Celsius on Friday, 12 degrees lower than Thursday's temperature. Mussoorie saw a decrease of 11.5 degrees Celsius, while Mukteshwar experienced an eight-degree drop.

Due to the cold wave conditions and snowfall, schools up to class 12 were closed in districts like Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Pithoragarh. The weather has brought back biting cold across the region.

Nainital city witnessed hailstorms along with rain. Despite the disruptions caused by the weather, the snowfall brought smiles to many faces as they enjoyed the winter wonderland.

With inputs from PTI