Explained: Western disturbance behind sudden snowfall in western Himalayas

Snowfall during March is considered off-season because the western Himalayas typically receive most of their snow between December and February, the peak winter months.

A sudden spell of off-season snowfall has swept across parts of the western Himalayas, affecting regions in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir and disrupting travel in several popular hill destinations.

The abrupt weather shift was most visible in Himachal Pradesh’s Manali area, where heavy snowfall near the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang, left nearly 1,000 vehicles stranded and forced authorities to launch a rescue operation.

Officials said snow accumulated rapidly near the tunnel’s south portal, making roads extremely slippery and bringing traffic to a halt. Teams from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Himachal Pradesh Police began clearing snow and guiding stranded vehicles to safer locations.

According to local authorities, weather conditions in Manali remained normal until late Saturday night, prompting many tourists to travel toward higher areas such as Lahaul Valley and the Atal Tunnel. Conditions changed quickly as snowfall began in high-altitude stretches.

By the next morning, snowfall intensified across the tunnel approach roads and nearby mountain passes. Within hours, traffic congestion built up as hundreds of vehicles struggled to move along snow-covered roads, leaving many tourists stranded.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has linked the weather event to a fresh western disturbance.