Winter Without Snow
Down To Earth|February 16, 2024
Record-low snowfall in the Himalayas is evidence that climate change is speeding up
ARSHINI SAIKIA AND CHIMI SELDON
Winter Without Snow

MOUNTAIN PEAKS in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region are usually blanketed by I snow during the winter. But this winter has been unusual. With little to no snowfall, the peaks are noticeably bare. The central region of high-altitude Hunza valley in northern Pakistan has not seen a single snowflake this winter. In Humla district of northwestern Nepal, Limi valley saw an unusual early snowfall event in late September but has since experienced a lack of precipitation.

In the HKH region, snow typically begins to accumulate around October or November and continues through March. However, temperatures have been warmer than average this season-2023 was the hottest year on record when global mean temperature rise crossed the guardrail of 1.5°C for the first time. This is a likely reason for the below-normal snow cover.

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