Dehradun, March 20 Winter suddenly and heavily returned to Uttarakhand on Friday, as Badrinath, Kedarnath, and other high-altitude areas were blanketed with a thick layer of snow.
The region recorded its heaviest snowfall in March in recent years, with continuous rain in the plains and lower hills causing daytime temperatures to plummet and triggering severe cold conditions across the state.
Several districts reported significant snowfall accumulation, including Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Auli.
According to the Rudraprayag District Disaster Centre, Kedarnath Dham recorded four feet of snow by Friday evening, with snowfall continuing.
The Chamoli district administration said that fresh snow has covered all high-altitude areas, with Badrinath recording two feet of snow by late evening.
In the plains, including Dehradun and Haridwar, rain that began on Thursday evening continued throughout Friday. This heavy rainfall led to a significant drop in daytime temperatures.
Data from the Dehradun Meteorological Centre showed that the city's maximum temperature was 17.4 degrees Celsius, which is 11 degrees below normal and nearly 10 degrees lower than Thursday's high.
Other regions also experienced a significant drop in temperatures. Pantnagar recorded a maximum of 22 degrees Celsius, while Tehri and Mukteshwar recorded highs of 8.4 and 7 degrees Celsius, respectively. These places recorded a drop of 4.6, 7.6, and 8.5 degrees compared to the previous day.
The Met Office had earlier forecast light to moderate rain and thunderstorms for most districts, with snow expected in areas above 3,000 metres.
An 'Orange Alert' remains in place for Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar, Champawat, and Pithoragarh due to the possibility of heavy rain, snow, hailstorms, and strong winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 kmph. A 'Yellow Alert' was issued for Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Tehri, Pauri, Almora, and Nainital.
While weather conditions are expected to improve by Saturday morning, weather department officials said that light rain may continue in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, and other hill districts until March 26.