Snowflakes at Kufri, Narkanda

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 19

The biting cold wave conditions continued unabated in most parts of Himachal as high-altitude tribal areas had another spell of fresh snow while Narkanda and Kufri received snowflakes.

Kalpa and Reckong Peo in Kinnaur district received 27 cm and 9 cm of snow while Keylong received 8 cm of snow, followed by Gondla and Kothi (6 cm) and Pooh (1 cm).

The tribal areas groaned under piercing cold wave conditions with Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts shivering at minus 2.1 degree C and minus 0.6 degree C. Manali recorded minimum temperature at 1.6 degree while Bhuntar and Sundernagar recorded a low of 4.1 degree and 4.5 degree followed by Solan 5.4 degree, Shimla 5.9 degree, Palampur 6.7 degree, Dharamsala 8.2 degree and Una 8.5 degree C.

The sky remained heavily overcast and strong icy winds swept the region. Foggy conditions prevailed in Shimla and the surrounding areas and key tourist resort of Manali was the wettest with 18 mm rain, followed by Kothi 12 mm, Bhuntar 10 mm, Seobagh 9 mm Kotkhai 5 mm and Janjehli and Salooni 4 mm.

The rain broke the prolonged dry spell but farmers are worried as rain and snow were confined to higher hills and tribal areas and did not cover the mid and lower hills where farmers are waiting for good rains to start Rabi sowing.

The local Met office has predicted dry weather in the region from November 20 to November 25 but a fresh western disturbance will affect the region from November 24.