Snowfall is very uncommon in South India in fact in most areas it doesn’t happen at all which is a result of the peninsula’s geography and its tropical climate. But that is not the full story and in many aspects is quite the opposite.
Geography and Climate of South India
South India is near the equator and is surrounded by large water bodies the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. This area has a tropical climate which is usually hot and humid. In Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana we do not see very low temperatures. Summers are long and hot, winters are mild. Also in winter most southern cities and towns do not see snow.
In the tropics’ grip the majority of South India reports no snowfall as it requires sub zero temps and very specific atmospheric conditions. But we see a few instances — mostly in the high altitude mountain ranges.
High-Altitude Regions: The last best hope for Snow.
The Western and Eastern Ghats which are very distinct mountain ranges in South India have some high altitude areas. In them we see the Nilgiri Hills (Ooty), Kodaikanal, Munnar, and Coorg which are very popular as health resorts but do they see snow?
Let us take a look at some of the main hill destinations:.
Top 4 Destinations Places for Snowfall in South India
1. Ooty of Tamil Nadu.
Ooty what is also known as Udhagamandalam is at an altitude of 2200 meters above sea level in the Nilgiris. In winter (December January) temperatures may drop below 5°C at which point it may even touch 0°C. There is report of people waking up to frosted lawns and very early morning chills. It is also to be noted that we do not have reports of snow fall in South India Ooty in recent past. What people think is snow is in fact heavy frosts that occur at night due to low temperatures.
2. Kodaigai (Tamil Nadu).
In the Palani Hills is the setting for Kodaikanal which also sees cold winter weather. Like Ooty it may see ground frost in the early morning through the months of December and January. The temperature may drop to 3 4 degrees Celsius which is as low as it goes, no snow to report.
3. Kerala’s Munnar.
Munnar which is at an altitude of about 1,600 meters is also one of the coldest in Kerala. In winter it does get very cold and we have had a few very rare reports of what looked like snow frost, mainly at higher altitudes like Anamudi (which is the highest point in South India). In January 2016 we saw what reported to be snow fall in Munnar but in actual it was a very heavy frost event which went down to near 0 degree Celsius which in turn caused dense white frost to form on the roads and grass what you saw was a snow like picture but it was confirmed by weather experts that what we saw was not snow at all.
4. Lambasingi (AP).
Now for a real twist. In the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh there is the village of Lambasingi which people like to call the “Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh”. At an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level that which does not see snow in most parts of the world, did in fact report snow in this very place Lambasingi in South India.
Locals and some old reports note that we have had very few cases of snow and ice, mainly on the ground and early in the mornings of the very cold days in December and January. The temperature does drop below 0°C. But in Lambasingi also snow is not a regular feature — in the modern record actually we had very little of it at all which was also limited to frost and icy rain.
Why is it that we don’t see snow in South India?
In order to explain this scientifically snow requires three conditions:.
- The air has to be at or below 0 degrees.
- The air must contain enough moisture.
- The air has to cool and rise quickly enough to form snowflakes.
- In most of South India: In in most parts of South India:.
- The temperature is too warm year round.
- In most areas altitude is not great enough for snow.
- Humid air and wind patterns which promote rain instead of snow.
At in the hill stations which is what they report, that snowfall does not last long. And even when we do see it which is not that often, that which is reported to be at very high altitudes which the tourists in fact don’t access.
Snowfall vs Frost
In places like Ooty or Munnar many tourists report seeing white frost in early morning which they confuse for snow. Frost which is a result of water vapor’s condensation and immediate freeze to the surfaces like leaves and roofs is what we see. It looks very pretty and covers the ground but that is snow which comes down from the sky as ice crystals.
Conclusion
Sure, does it snow in South India? From a technical point of view the answer is yes, but only in very rare and isolated events for example in Lambasingi or on some peaks in the Western Ghats which are right under very special conditions. For the large part what people report as “snow” in South Indian hill stations is actually frost instead of snow fall.
That which is said, if you are looking for a cold winter retreat in the south go to Ooty, Kodaikanal, Munnar, or Lambasingi which present you with great views, misty mornings, and cold enough weather to enjoy a hot cup of chai in a sweater although there may not be a snowman to build!
If which snow you do want — you should go north. But for peace, greenery and that winter touch without the very cold, South India’s hill stations are still well worth it.
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- I am the owner of the blog readree.com. My love for technology began at a young age, and I have been exploring every nook and cranny of it for the past eight years. In that time, I have learned an immense amount about the internet world, technology, Smartphones, Computers, Funny Tricks, and how to use the internet to solve common problems faced by people in their day-to-day lives. Through this blog, I aim to share all that I have learned with my readers so that they can benefit from it too. Connect with me : Sabinbaniya2002@gmail.com
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