Met predicts 'white New Year eve' in Uttarakhand

DEHRADUN: In good news for tourists who are making a beeline to the Uttarakhand hills for New Year celebrations, the regional met department has predicted snowfall in higher reaches of the Himalayan state ahead of December 31. According to the forecast, high-altitude places in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh, Dehradun and Nainital districts are likely to receive snowfall on December 29 and 30, while the remaining places are expected to witness rain activity.
Tourists, particularly from the national capital region (NCR), Haryana and Punjab, come to different parts of Uttarakhand to celebrate Christmas and New Year. Hill stations like Mussoorie, Nainital, Mukteshwar, Auli and Chakrata in particular see heavy influx of visitors.
"Under the influence of a western disturbance, rain and snowfall are likely at high-altitude places like Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudrapryag, Nainital and Pithoragarh districts on Thursday and Friday," said Bikram Singh, director, regional meteorological centre.
Giving details of the places likely to witness snowfall, Singh said, "Hilly areas situated at 3,000 metres of altitude and above are expected to see snowfall, which includes popular hill stations like Harsil, Auli, Munsyari, Chakrata and higher reaches of Nainital."
The remaining places, including Dehradun, are expected to be lashed by light showers, the met forecast said, adding that dense to very dense fog is likely to occur in some parts of plains, especially in Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar districts.
Meanwhile, cold to severe cold day conditions will prevail at a few places in the plain districts like Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar, as per the forecast.