Mercury plunges after snowfall, rain in Himachal

The cold wave across the state intensified on Thursday with the high-altitude areas, including Rohtang Pass, receiving snowfall and the lower parts getting drizzle.

The Shimla Meteorological Centre has predicted more snowfall in the higher reaches in the next 24 hours.

The change in weather resulted in the mercury dropping two-three notches in several parts of the hill state.

At capital Shimla, the minimum temperature plunged to 6.4°C on Thursday from 10°C the day before. The overcast sky and drizzling raised residents’ and tourists’ hope of snowfall, but they had to settle for the light rain.

Seobagh in Kullu district recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 1.5°C, while Berthin in Bilaspur was the warmest at 28.2°C.

Besides, Kalpa recorded a minimum temperature of 2.4°C, Keylong 3.1°C, Una 3.6°C, Manali 4.8°C, Solan 5°C, Sundernagar 5.6°C, Bhuntar 5.7°C, Dalhousie 6.1°C, Bilaspur 6.4°C, Hamirpur 6.8°C, Palampur 7.5°C, Dharamshala 9.2°C, Chamba 9.3°C, Mandi 10.1°C, Kangra 10.2°C and Nahan 13.4°C.

Shimla Meteorological Centre director Manmohan Singh said due a feeble Western Disturbance moving across Jammu and Kashmir, there was drizzling at some places, while high-altitude areas, including some passes, received light snowfall. “There is possibility of light snowfall in the next 24 hours, but weather will remain dry after that for four to five days,” he added.