Light Snowfall Hits High-Altitude Areas of Himachal Pradesh
Light snowfall swept through the high-altitude pockets of Lahaul-Spiti on Friday. Overcast skies maintained cold conditions across Himachal Pradesh. The snowfall began by evening in areas like Trilokinath in the Pattan valley and the adjoining Miyar valley in the Udaipur sub-division.
Coldest Temperatures Recorded Across the State
According to the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, Tabo was the coldest location in the state. It recorded a minimum temperature of –5.2°C. Kukumseri followed closely at –3.8°C.
Other cold spots in Himachal Pradesh included Solan with 0.1°C. Seobagh recorded 0.4°C, Kalpa 0.6°C, and Bhuntar 1°C. Sundernagar saw 1.6°C, Mandi 2.3°C, and Hamirpur 2.1°C. Reckong Peo registered 2.8°C, and Bajaura reached 3.2°C.
Hill Stations Experience Chilly Conditions
Among the popular hill stations, Manali was the coldest. It recorded a minimum temperature of 2.6°C. Dharamshala followed with 5.2°C, Palampur with 4°C, Kufri with 8.5°C, and Shimla with 10.5°C.
Dense Fog Intensifies Cold Wave in Low Hills
Many areas of the state remained covered under dense fog during morning and evening hours. This fog primarily affected parts of the low hills, including Mandi, Bilaspur, Una, and Hamirpur districts. The fog triggered an intense cold wave across these regions.
Weather Forecast Predicts Relief from Dry Spell
The weather department has issued a forecast predicting light rain and snow. This precipitation is expected in the mid and high hills of Himachal Pradesh from January 16 to 22. If the rain materializes, it will break the ongoing dry spell.
The dry spell has lasted for more than three months. It adversely impacted rabi crops across the state. According to the Met Centre, the state received only 2.7 mm of rainfall until January 16 this month. This amount is 93% less than the normal rainfall of 37.3 mm.
