Reason for Absence of Significant snowfall in J&K since two month

METD WEATHER

Akshay Deoras

Severe Weather Forecaster

Since December 2010, NO significant western disturbance has landed over Northern India

I had forecasted a western disturbance on Oct 20 2010 which brought significant snowfall in Kashmir valley and was the first snowfall of the period. After that, no such reports have arrived as no western disturbance generated had landed over Northern India

The GFS models have been indicating W.D generation and consequent snowfall/rains due to them. But the WD are passing North of Jammu and Kashmir since Oct 2010.

The snow depth maps indicate more snow North of Jammu and Kashmir than in the state itself

Reason- ( See the 2010 WINTER FORECAST FOR DETAILS. All answers embedded in that write up @ http://metdweather.blogspot.com/2010/11/2010-winter-forecast-for-india.html

Reason no 1]

LA NINA cold episodes

As was mentioned in the 2010 Winter Forecast, LA NINA cold episodes cause warmer winters in Extreme North ( J&K) . These cold episodes bring severe cold in Northern Plain state

s,Central India,Gujarat,Western Coast.

SO THERE WAS A MASSIVE COLD WAVE IN GUJARAT WHERE TEMP DROPPED TO 8C IN SURAT FEW DAYS BACK

Also, Drier winters are experienced in J%K than normal winters due to LA NINA Jet streams intensification. So less precipitation was bound to happen up there is now.

METD WEATHER FORECAST PROVES CORRECT

Relating to TIBET HIGH PRESSURE belt

Jet streams which carry these WD from Europe to Asia are still flowing in a Zonal flow indicating absence of extratropical storm. Winds aloft due to blocking high pressure over TIBET have NW or Northerly flow over Central India.

METD WEATHER FORECAST PROVES CORRECT.

2]

Secondly RELATIVELY LESS extra tropical storms( WD) are originating

in Mediterranean sea. Europe is getting hammered by the Atlantic lows and these lows are dying off after precipitating heavily in Europe

3] NEGATIVE INDIAN OCEAN DIPOLE

This parameter was not included in 2010 Winter forecast as I had not expected IOD to be Negative till so late. Neg IOD sends lesser convective activity over North India giving less Winter rains or Snowfall in extreme north of India

New models

The recently issued graphics from JAMSTEC of the Precipitation Anomaly is showing a Schematic Negative Indian Ocean Dipole in the precipitation models

Check the image above-

Blue and Red colors making a dipole in Indian Ocean

DJF Temp outlook as issued on 1st Dec 2010

DJF outlook ( December,January,February) outlook still Indicating Cooler than normal winter in Rest of India except J&K

You can see the RED ( More than AVG temperature in Jammu and Kashmir)

PROOF OF ACCURATE 2010 WINTER FORECAST OUTLOOK OF INDIA

The Image at right is the 850mb Air temperature map. The DARK BLACK LINE is the 0C line which is a divider between Rain and SNOW

Its December mid but still the 0C line has not covered Northern India meaning that Air is still warmer than 0C ( AS THE FORECAST MENTIONED FOR 1C ABOVE AVG)

Surface temp are low in J&K but atmospheric temperature at 850mb is still warm to convert rain to snow and also NO MOISTURE PRESENT FOR IT