Kamal Ghorui
India has been waking up to a strange feel of winter in the middle of what should be pre-peak summer weather. After one of the driest and hottest Februarys in recent memory across North India, mid-March has completely changed the weather, with snowfall dusting Kashmir’s higher reaches and thunderstorms lashing Delhi. What came as a surprise was Karnataka’s snow-like hailstorm blanketing a town in the state, which is making rounds on social media.
Winter in March Kashmir sees fresh snow while Karnataka turns white with rare snow-like hailstorm hailstorm (representative Image)
Winter 2.0 in Kashmir
Kashmir has turned chilly again as an active Western Disturbance swept through the region, bringing snowfall to the higher reaches and rain to the plains. The India Meteorological Department has forecast “erratic weather across India until March 20,” with particular focus on the Western Himalayas.On March 18, popular tourist spots like Gulmarg and Sonamarg were covered in fresh snow, while Srinagar saw light drizzle. Daytime temperatures in the valley remained well below normal, especially in the mornings and evenings, returning a winter-like feel despite the calendar showing mid-March.Netizens have shared photos and videos of snow-blanketed trees and meadows, turning the valley into a virtual “paradise” on social media.
Snow-like hailstorm turns Karnataka into a ‘winter wonderland’
The unusual change in weather is not limited to North India. A few days back, Kalghatgi town and nearby villages in Karnataka’s Dharwad district experienced a dramatic “snow-like hailstorm,” as reported by The Hindu. The sudden downpour sent residents rushing for shelter. Large hailstones covered roads, leaving vehicles stranded and making driving conditions highly risky.The hailstorm lasted for about two hours, turning parts of the town white and giving locals a rare sight more often associated with mountain regions than the southern plains. D. R. C. Patil, Director of IMD Bengaluru, explained that the event was caused by strong local convection, where a mix of intense heat, moisture, and wind discontinuity triggered deep convection and led to excessive hail formation, according to an Indian Express report.According to IMD’s own regional forecasts, isolated hailstorm activity is also expected in other parts of Central and East India in the coming days.
Heat, storms and an unsettled climate
Only a few weeks ago, IMD had already flagged that parts of Northwest and Central India were under a moderate to severe heatwave, with maximum temperatures touching 39–44°C in some regions. Now, many of those same areas are facing thunderstorms, gusty winds, and even isolated hailstorms, creating a “weather whiplash” effect that is surprising for people as well as agriculture.
