Himachal Pradesh Sees Relief as Rains and Snowfall Bring Down Temperatures

Moderate to heavy rain in the mid and low hills, coupled with snowfall in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh, significantly brought down temperatures on Sunday. This weather shift provided much-needed relief from the hot conditions, particularly in the lower areas of the state.

Rainfall and Snowfall Across Districts

Rain was reported in parts of Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur, Solan, Shimla, Kangra, Sirmaur, and Una districts. Light snowfall was recorded in the high-altitude areas of Kullu, Lahaul Spiti, and Kinnaur districts, including notable locations such as the Atal Tunnel, Sissu, Rohtang Pass, and Shinkula Pass.

In the Atal Tunnel area, snowfall made roads slippery, prompting the Kullu police to close the Manali-Atal Tunnel highway at Solang Valley on Sunday afternoon as a safety precaution.

Relief for Farmers and Horticulturists

Farmers and horticulturists have heaved a sigh of relief as Solan and Shimla received light to moderate rainfall. This precipitation broke a prolonged dry spell that had lasted for more than one-and-a-half months, potentially benefiting agricultural activities in the region.

Temperature Drop and Weather Patterns

The mercury dropped on Sunday due to gusty winds and hailstorms in many parts of the state. According to meteorological data, Himachal Pradesh had received below-normal rainfall in February and continued to record deficient rain so far this month.

Maximum temperatures recorded on Sunday:

Una: 23.4 degrees Celsius, 4.2 degrees below normal, a drop of 10.2 degrees in 24 hours.
Sundernagar: 22.2 degrees Celsius, 2.1 degrees below normal.
Solan: 22.5 degrees Celsius, 0.4 degrees below normal.
Mandi: 22.6 degrees Celsius, 5.6 degrees below normal.
Kangra: 20.9 degrees Celsius, 1.9 degrees below normal.
Chamba: 16.7 degrees Celsius, 10.5 degrees below normal.

Minimum temperatures recorded:

Tabo in Lahaul Spiti: 1.4 degrees Celsius, the lowest.
Shimla: 9.6 degrees Celsius.
Manali: 9.9 degrees Celsius.
Dharamshala: 13.7 degrees Celsius.
Kasauli: 15.3 degrees Celsius.
Nahan: 11.4 degrees Celsius, 2.6 degrees below normal.

Weather Forecast

Meteorological officials have predicted the possibility of light snow in the higher reaches and rain in the low and mid hills in the coming days. This forecast suggests that the relief from high temperatures may continue, offering further respite to residents and farmers across Himachal Pradesh.