weather whiplash – Snow has returned to parts of the upper Himalayas while large swaths of northern and central India remain trapped in a relentless heatwave, underscoring a volatile seasonal transition with punishing temperatures in the plains and storms—sometimes violent—in hi
Fresh snow has begun returning to the upper Himalayas as the plains struggle under a sweltering heatwave, creating a stark divide across India that meteorologists describe as “weather whiplash.”
White mountain passes around Zoji La and higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir were reported to be covered in fresh snow. along with parts of Ladakh. In contrast. cities across Rajasthan. Delhi. Haryana. Uttar Pradesh. and Madhya Pradesh have been enduring punishing daytime temperatures—while the nights offer little relief.
The India Meteorological Department’s latest forecast points to a country pulled in opposite directions at once. In the Himalayan region, intermittent rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall in higher reaches are being driven by active western disturbances. Through the coming week. the IMD forecasts scattered rainfall and thunderstorms over Jammu and Kashmir. Himachal Pradesh. and Uttarakhand. with hailstorms and powerful winds reaching up to 70 kmph in some areas by May 28 and 29.
Down on the plains, the heat persists largely because there is no widespread, sustained rain system strong enough to break the cycle. Even where storms are expected, they are likely to be isolated and short-lived, meaning temperatures can climb again quickly after brief relief.
The contrast sharpens further to the east and south. The northeast is bracing for extremely heavy rainfall—especially over Assam and Meghalaya on May 25—with more heavy rain forecast through the week across Arunachal Pradesh. Nagaland. Manipur. Mizoram. and Tripura. Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are also expected to see repeated spells of rain and thunderstorms.
Southern India, meanwhile, is moving toward an active pre-monsoon phase. Kerala. coastal Karnataka. Tamil Nadu. and parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are expected to receive widespread rainfall. thunderstorms. and gusty winds through May 29. Some regions could also see thundersqualls with wind speeds reaching up to 70 kmph and isolated hailstorms.
Meteorologists say the whiplash is tied to India’s transition into a turbulent seasonal period. Winter-like systems are still affecting the mountains. even as intense summer heat dominates the plains ahead of the southwest monsoon’s advance. In their view. multiple weather systems are colliding at the same time: western disturbances bringing cold-weather impacts to the Himalayas while Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea moisture is feeding heavy rain and thunderstorms across the northeast and parts of southern and eastern India.
For people living in the heatwave-hit regions, the immediate reality is harsher than the meteorological explanation. Blistering afternoons and dangerously hot nights continue with no clear sign of a lasting cooldown yet.
India weather whiplash heatwave Himalayan snowfall Zoji La Ladakh Jammu and Kashmir IMD forecast western disturbances hailstorms 70 kmph winds Assam Meghalaya heavy rainfall pre-monsoon