From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI: Why doesn’t Meghalaya experience a white Christmas though parts of it record sub-zero temperatures?
There are several reasons why the state, despite at a higher altitude, does not witness snowfall. Geographically, Meghalaya is located to the south of Assam Valley and is not a part of the Himalayan ranges which run from Jammu and Kashmir across Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim. Even places at a lower elevation in the Himalayan range witness snowfall.
Places which are situated in the Himalayan range have suitable weather for snowfall to occur. Due to low temperatures and humidity, layers of frost develop over the region giving a resemblance of snow.
Secondly, for snowfall several factors are to be considered which include lower temperatures up in the clouds where snowflakes are formed and on the ground as well. If the air near the ground level is warm, it is not conducive for snowflakes to sustain which is why they melt resulting in a no snow show.
Thirdly, Meghalaya lies in the tropical latitudes close to the Tropic of Cancer which inhibits the occurrence of snowfall. Other than the areas that lie in the Himalayan ranges, it does not snow anywhere that lies in the vicinity of the Tropic of Cancer.
Lastly, the western disturbances from Pakistan track northeastwards and affect the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Thereafter, it moves towards the Himalayas without affecting Meghalaya and western disturbances is also not felt over the state.