The final days of November 2025 delivered a dramatic reminder of winter’s power across two continents, as Himachal Pradesh in northern India braced for an incoming bout of rain and snow while southern Minnesota in the United States dug out from a relentless, long-lasting snowstorm. Residents in both regions found themselves at the mercy of unpredictable weather, with warnings issued, records noted, and communities responding to the challenges posed by Mother Nature.
In Himachal Pradesh, the picturesque Himalayan state renowned for its rugged beauty, the Shimla Meteorological office announced on Sunday that rain and snow were likely to sweep across the mid and high hills on December 4 and 5. According to Hindustan Times, this forecast came after a spell of dry weather across the state, punctuated by a cold wave that sent night temperatures tumbling below freezing in the tribal and higher-altitude regions. The meteorological office didn’t just stop at precipitation forecasts; it also issued a yellow warning for dense fog, expected in and around the Bhakra Dam reservoir in Bilaspur district during late-night hours from December 1 to 3. Similar foggy conditions were anticipated in parts of the Balh Valley in Mandi district during the same period.
These warnings weren’t issued lightly. In the 24 hours preceding November 30, Himachal Pradesh had experienced dry weather, but the chill was unmistakable. Tabo, nestled in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti, endured the coldest night with temperatures plunging to minus 4.7 degrees Celsius. Kukumseri wasn’t far behind at minus 4.6 degrees, and Samdho recorded a frosty minus 3.1 degrees. In sharp contrast, Una basked in daytime warmth, reaching a high of 25.2 degrees Celsius—a striking divergence within a single state.
Rainfall statistics added another layer to the unfolding weather narrative. Himachal Pradesh had received 69.5 mm of rain from October 1 to November 30, 2025, which, as the meteorological office noted, was a whopping 55 percent above the normal post-monsoon season rainfall of 44.8 mm. This excess precipitation, coupled with the incoming forecast, left many residents and local authorities on high alert, especially as winter truly began to settle in.
Meanwhile, halfway around the globe, southern Minnesota was grappling with the aftermath of a snowstorm that meteorologists described as long-lasting rather than intense. According to the Star Tribune, the storm began Friday night, November 28, and persisted for nearly 30 hours, finally tapering off on Saturday evening, November 29. While the snow never fell with overwhelming force at any one moment, its steady accumulation was enough to disrupt daily life and test the resilience of both infrastructure and residents.
The Rochester area bore the brunt of the storm, recording between 7 and 8.5 inches of snow over a 48-hour period, with the city itself seeing the highest totals. As meteorologist Brennan Dettmann explained, "As you head toward the Twin Cities, you get that gradient," meaning the snowfall amounts decreased gradually to the north. The Mankato corridor received 6 to 7 inches, while the southern side of the Twin Cities metro area picked up about 6 inches. Downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul saw roughly 5 inches, and the north side of the metro area recorded around 4 inches.
Dettmann emphasized the storm’s unique character, noting, "It snowed for over 24 hours—closer to 30 hours in the Twin Cities—and it was a pretty steady snow that was able to just pile on throughout that time." For many Minnesotans, the storm may have felt like a rude awakening after a relatively quiet start to the season. Yet, as Dettmann pointed out, November typically brings about 7 inches of snow on average in Minnesota. This storm, then, was more a matter of duration than deviation from the norm.
The prolonged snowfall, however, had significant consequences on the roads. In the 24 hours preceding November 30, the Minnesota State Patrol responded to an eye-popping 417 crashes, including 24 that resulted in non-life-threatening injuries. There were also 399 spinouts or vehicles that slid off the road and required tow assistance, alongside 11 jackknifed semis. One particularly dramatic incident—a five-vehicle pileup near Northfield around 1:25 p.m. Saturday—sent two people to area hospitals with injuries that, while not life-threatening, underscored the dangers of travel during such weather. The incident began as a semitrailer truck was being pulled from a ditch at the intersection of Interstate 35 and Highway 19, when the driver of another vehicle failed to spot the semi, triggering a chain reaction of collisions on the icy pavement.
For communities in both Himachal Pradesh and Minnesota, these weather events served as reminders of the challenges that winter can bring—sometimes suddenly, sometimes with a slow, steady persistence. In Himachal Pradesh, the convergence of cold waves, above-normal rainfall, and warnings for fog and snow has prompted residents to prepare for potentially treacherous conditions in the coming days. The state’s diverse climate, ranging from the sub-zero nights in Lahaul and Spiti to the daytime warmth of Una, highlights the complexities faced by meteorologists and emergency planners alike.
In Minnesota, the snowstorm’s legacy is measured not just in inches of accumulation, but in the sheer number of accidents and disruptions it caused. The long duration of the storm, rather than its intensity, caught many drivers off guard, leading to hundreds of accidents and a significant demand for tow services. Yet, as Dettmann and others have pointed out, such storms are not unusual for the region at this time of year—November is, after all, when Minnesotans expect to see the first real taste of winter’s bite.
Across both regions, the broader context of climate and seasonal expectations plays a role in how communities respond. In Himachal Pradesh, the excess rainfall during the post-monsoon season may raise questions about shifting climate patterns, while in Minnesota, the steady but unremarkable snowfall is a reminder of the region’s resilience and routine adaptation to winter weather. Still, for those caught in traffic jams, stranded on icy roads, or watching the mercury drop below zero, the experience is anything but routine.
As December begins, residents from the Himalayas to the American Midwest are reminded that, no matter how much we prepare or how well we predict, the weather always has a few surprises in store. The coming days will test readiness and resolve, but as history shows, communities in both Himachal Pradesh and Minnesota are no strangers to the challenges of winter.