Clear asian skies due to covid lockdowns last year will affect the snowmelt in the mountains of Pakistan and India this year. The lockdown meant less electricity generation from coal and reduced traffic. Less soot was deposited on snow, increasing its albedo, reflecting more sunlight and slowing the thaw. This helps water management as the region's reservoir capacity is limited. Residents of Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world, experienced clear skies and in Kathmandu people reported seeing Mount Everest for the first time in decades. Satellite analysis showed that concentrations of soot were down 30% compared to the last 20 years.