Why is it in the news?
→ Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir recorded severe rainfall deficits during Dec–Jan 2025–26.
→ Raised concerns over climate variability, water security, agriculture, forest fires and Himalayan livelihoods.
Category: Geography
Important Points
- Western Himalayas experienced an unusually dry and snowless winter in 2025–26.
- Western Disturbances (WDs) are the primary source of winter snowfall in the region.
- Recent WDs were weak and moisture-deficient with shallow low-pressure systems.
- Reduced vertical uplift caused short-lived precipitation and poor snow accumulation.
- Several WDs followed northward trajectories, limiting snowfall in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
- Weakened interaction with Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea moisture reduced cloud formation.
- Subtropical Westerly Jet Stream weakening diverted WDs away from India.
- Rising winter temperatures raised snowline altitude, converting snowfall into rain.
- Repeated dry winters over the past decade indicate long-term climatic variability.
- Reduced snowfall threatens glacier mass balance and rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Indus.
- Delayed snowfall adversely affects rabi crops such as wheat and mustard.
- Forest moisture decline increased fire risk in Valley of Flowers range and Nanda Devi National Park.
- Snowless winters disrupt alpine biodiversity and fragile mountain ecosystems.
- Winter tourism and apple cultivation impacted, affecting Himalayan livelihoods.
- Measures suggested: expand IMD high-altitude stations; INSAT and Cartosat snow monitoring.
- Artificial glaciers/ice stupas promoted under 2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.
- Spring rejuvenation via the Dhara Vikas model is recommended.
- Glacier monitoring strengthened under National Mission on Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE).