Weather experts are pointing out that much less snow is falling on the Himalayas than usual. Instead of being covered in white during the winter, many parts of the mountains are looking bare and rocky. In fact, most winters over the last five years have seen significantly less snow compared to the averages from 1980 to 2020.
The Cause: Warming Temperatures
Because the Earth is getting warmer, two things are happening:
- Faster Melting: The small amount of snow that does fall melts away almost immediately.
- Rain instead of Snow: In lower areas, it is now often raining instead of snowing.
Why This Matters for People
This isn’t just about the view; it’s about survival. The snow that piles up in winter acts like a “water bank.” When it melts in the spring, it flows into rivers that provide drinking water, food irrigation, and electricity for hundreds of millions of people. Without that winter snow, the “bank” is empty when spring arrives.
The Dangerous Side Effects
Experts warn that the lack of snow creates a domino effect of disasters:
- Forest Fires: Without enough moisture from rain and snow, the land becomes bone-dry and catches fire easily.
- Crumbles and Collapses: Ice and snow actually act like “glue” or cement that holds the mountainside together. As that ice vanishes, the mountains become unstable.
- Natural Disasters: We are already seeing more frequent landslides, falling rocks, and floods caused by mountain lakes bursting their banks.
