PRESS RELEASE
Seasonal Snow Cover Variations in Himachal Himalaya during
2023-24 winter period
Ever since the inception of the State Centre on Climate Change under the aegis of the HP
Council for Science Technology & Environment (HIMCOSTE) by the Government of Himachal
Pradesh, the Centre has been involved in undertaking various studies to understand the impact of
climate change on its various facets.
The State of Himachal Pradesh receives winter precipitation in the form of snow at the
higher altitudes. About 1/3rd of the total geographical area of the State remains under thick snow
cover during the winter season. Most of the major rivers like Chenab, Beas, Parvati, Baspa, Spiti,
Ravi, Satluj and its perennial tributaries originating from the Himalayas depend upon the seasonal
snow cover for their discharge dependability. Besides this, the snow cover also helps in controlling
the accumulation and ablation patterns of the glaciated regions in the State.
Considering the importance of seasonal snow cover as a major input in controlling the
hydrology of the river basins, Director (Env.S&T)-cum-Member Secretary (HIMCOSTE) Sh. D.C.
Rana informed that although we have the information about the total snow fall that takes place
during winter season from the various observatories operating through out the State as a point
information but iss spatial extent reflecting about the how much area is udenr snow cannot be
ascertained. Thus, by using satellite data of different resolutions, it has now become possible to map
the geographical extent of the area covered under snow during winter season. He further said that the
studies which are being carried out by the Centre for mapping of seasonal snow cover in terms of its
spatial distribution covers the different river basins in Himachal Pradesh during the winter season
from October to April and is an important input in order to understand the contribution of snow in
different catchments to sustain the hydrology of the river basins.
Considering the present trend of winter snowfall in Himachal Pradesh, the winter
precipitation was mapped in all the basins viz. Chandra, Bhaga, Miyar, Beas, Parvati, Jiwa, Pin, Spiti
and Baspa using AWiFS satellite data having spatial resolution of 56 mts w.e.f October 2023 to April
2024. During this period , the snowfall was estimated and analyzed with reference to the average
value of the total area under snow in each month from October to April. Based on the study carried
out, the following inferences were drawn:
During early winter months of 2023-24 (October to November), all three basins viz. Chenab,
Beas, and Satluj shows negative trends in the area under snow cover w.r.t 2022-23, whereas
Ravi shows a marginal increase in the area under snow during 2023-24 reflecting a positive
trend.
During peak winter months (December to February), all basins show a declining trend in the
area under snow except Satluj that shows a positive trend (2% in December) in 2023-24 w.r.t
2022-23 peak winter months. The results obtained for the peak winter months reveals that the
decline was maximum in the month of January in all the basins with Chenab (42%), Beas (43%),
Ravi (64%) and Satluj (67%) during 2023-24 winter in comparison to 2022-23 respectively. The
snow cover in February in all the basins shows a positive trend and the area under snow is
increased during this period.
During the month of March 2024, same positive trend was observed in each basin in March
reflecting increase in the area under snow during this period in 2023-24 in comparison to 2022-
23. Likewise, at the beginning of the ablation period i.e.,April, the winter precipitation extended
to April as a result of which an enhancement of area is seen in each basin.
Thus, based on the overall analysis, it is observed that in Chenab basin 15.39% decline has been
observed in 2023-24 in comparison to 2022-23, whereas in Beas the decline was of the order of
7.65%, in Ravi the decline was 9.89% and in Satluj, the decline was of the order of12.45% in
2023-24 in comparison to 2022-23 in terms of the total spatial distribution of the snow cover
area with an overall decline of about 12.72% in the entire H.P. Himalaya covering all the four
basins i. e Chenab, Beas, Ravi and Satluj based on the monthly average of the area under snow
cover in each basin in 2023-24 in comparison to 2022-23, which was about 14.05% in 2022-23
winter time. The higher rate of decrease in the Chenab basin reflects that winter precipitation
during 2023-24 was comparatively weak in nature as the topographic location of the Chenab
basin is such that it is presumed to receive more snow because of the WDs, that originates from
the Mediterranean region enters through Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jammu Kashmir and then
Himachal giving more precipitation in the Lahaul Spiti area before crossing the Pir Panjal Range
that controls the western disturbance in other basins in the State.
Sh. Prabodh Saxena, IAS, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh on this study
apprised that HIMCOSTE has been carrying the studies on the Himalayan snow and glaciers for
the last more than three decades and had generated the database on this part of the Western
Himalayan Region. As reported based on the various studies, the temperature on the Higher
Himalayan region is comparatively higher than the low-lying areas which is affecting our
Himalayan reserves, and is evidenced by the fact that most of the glaciers are losing mass.
Besides this, a large shift has also been observed in the snow fall patterns during winters
affecting the river discharge during the peak summer season. He further said that we have also
seen the rising temperature effects during winters in Shimla experiencing almost negligible snow
spells during the last two winters, which seems to be major change in the weather patterns and if
this continues, we have to think upon as we may have shortage of water in the coming years. I
think there is need to take serious note on this and hopeful that the concrete steps taken by the
Government like introduction of e-vehicles, shifting to renewable energy etc. would definitely
help in reducing the GHGs emissions, so that the rise in temperatures could be checked even at
micro scale as well.
D.C.Rana, IAS
Member Secretary (HIMCOSTE)
Seasonal Snow Cover Variations in Himachal Himalaya during
2023-24 winter period
Ever since the inception of the State Centre on Climate Change under the aegis of the HP
Council for Science Technology & Environment (HIMCOSTE) by the Government of Himachal
Pradesh, the Centre has been involved in undertaking various studies to understand the impact of
climate change on its various facets.
The State of Himachal Pradesh receives winter precipitation in the form of snow at the
higher altitudes. About 1/3rd of the total geographical area of the State remains under thick snow
cover during the winter season. Most of the major rivers like Chenab, Beas, Parvati, Baspa, Spiti,
Ravi, Satluj and its perennial tributaries originating from the Himalayas depend upon the seasonal
snow cover for their discharge dependability. Besides this, the snow cover also helps in controlling
the accumulation and ablation patterns of the glaciated regions in the State.
Considering the importance of seasonal snow cover as a major input in controlling the
hydrology of the river basins, Director (Env.S&T)-cum-Member Secretary (HIMCOSTE) Sh. D.C.
Rana informed that although we have the information about the total snow fall that takes place
during winter season from the various observatories operating through out the State as a point
information but iss spatial extent reflecting about the how much area is udenr snow cannot be
ascertained. Thus, by using satellite data of different resolutions, it has now become possible to map
the geographical extent of the area covered under snow during winter season. He further said that the
studies which are being carried out by the Centre for mapping of seasonal snow cover in terms of its
spatial distribution covers the different river basins in Himachal Pradesh during the winter season
from October to April and is an important input in order to understand the contribution of snow in
different catchments to sustain the hydrology of the river basins.
Considering the present trend of winter snowfall in Himachal Pradesh, the winter
precipitation was mapped in all the basins viz. Chandra, Bhaga, Miyar, Beas, Parvati, Jiwa, Pin, Spiti
and Baspa using AWiFS satellite data having spatial resolution of 56 mts w.e.f October 2023 to April
2024. During this period , the snowfall was estimated and analyzed with reference to the average
value of the total area under snow in each month from October to April. Based on the study carried
out, the following inferences were drawn:
During early winter months of 2023-24 (October to November), all three basins viz. Chenab,
Beas, and Satluj shows negative trends in the area under snow cover w.r.t 2022-23, whereas
Ravi shows a marginal increase in the area under snow during 2023-24 reflecting a positive
trend.
During peak winter months (December to February), all basins show a declining trend in the
area under snow except Satluj that shows a positive trend (2% in December) in 2023-24 w.r.t
2022-23 peak winter months. The results obtained for the peak winter months reveals that the
decline was maximum in the month of January in all the basins with Chenab (42%), Beas (43%),
Ravi (64%) and Satluj (67%) during 2023-24 winter in comparison to 2022-23 respectively. The
snow cover in February in all the basins shows a positive trend and the area under snow is
increased during this period.
During the month of March 2024, same positive trend was observed in each basin in March
reflecting increase in the area under snow during this period in 2023-24 in comparison to 2022-
23. Likewise, at the beginning of the ablation period i.e.,April, the winter precipitation extended
to April as a result of which an enhancement of area is seen in each basin.
Thus, based on the overall analysis, it is observed that in Chenab basin 15.39% decline has been
observed in 2023-24 in comparison to 2022-23, whereas in Beas the decline was of the order of
7.65%, in Ravi the decline was 9.89% and in Satluj, the decline was of the order of12.45% in
2023-24 in comparison to 2022-23 in terms of the total spatial distribution of the snow cover
area with an overall decline of about 12.72% in the entire H.P. Himalaya covering all the four
basins i. e Chenab, Beas, Ravi and Satluj based on the monthly average of the area under snow
cover in each basin in 2023-24 in comparison to 2022-23, which was about 14.05% in 2022-23
winter time. The higher rate of decrease in the Chenab basin reflects that winter precipitation
during 2023-24 was comparatively weak in nature as the topographic location of the Chenab
basin is such that it is presumed to receive more snow because of the WDs, that originates from
the Mediterranean region enters through Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jammu Kashmir and then
Himachal giving more precipitation in the Lahaul Spiti area before crossing the Pir Panjal Range
that controls the western disturbance in other basins in the State.
Sh. Prabodh Saxena, IAS, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh on this study
apprised that HIMCOSTE has been carrying the studies on the Himalayan snow and glaciers for
the last more than three decades and had generated the database on this part of the Western
Himalayan Region. As reported based on the various studies, the temperature on the Higher
Himalayan region is comparatively higher than the low-lying areas which is affecting our
Himalayan reserves, and is evidenced by the fact that most of the glaciers are losing mass.
Besides this, a large shift has also been observed in the snow fall patterns during winters
affecting the river discharge during the peak summer season. He further said that we have also
seen the rising temperature effects during winters in Shimla experiencing almost negligible snow
spells during the last two winters, which seems to be major change in the weather patterns and if
this continues, we have to think upon as we may have shortage of water in the coming years. I
think there is need to take serious note on this and hopeful that the concrete steps taken by the
Government like introduction of e-vehicles, shifting to renewable energy etc. would definitely
help in reducing the GHGs emissions, so that the rise in temperatures could be checked even at
micro scale as well.
D.C.Rana, IAS
Member Secretary (HIMCOSTE)
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