Rain, snow predicted for 6 days in state

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 15

The MeT Department has predicted widespread rain and snow in the region from tomorrow for six days following western disturbances.

While the weather remained inclement for more than 10 days during January and rain and snow occurred in February also, Shimla had deficient snowfall. While Shimla received 39 cm of snow in December 2014 against the normal snowfall of 15 cm, the weather during January this year played truant and only 5 cm of snow was recorded against normal snowfall of 45 cm.

Even in the first fortnight of February, the snowfall was only 7 cm which was less than normal snowfall of 40 cm. Himachal received 38 per cent deficient rain during the monsoon and the shortfall was 28 per cent from January 1 to February 15 this year and all districts of the state except Una and Mandi received less than normal rainfall.

There was no significant change in the minimum temperature and Keylong was the coldest with a low of -9.7 degrees followed by Kalpa -5.2°C, Manali 0.2°C, Bhuntar 4.1°C, Solan and Una 4.8°C, Sundernagar 5.7°C, and Shimla and Dharamsala 7.3°C, Kangra 8.2°C and Nahan 11.5°C.

The maximum temperature increased by 1 to 2 degrees and Una was the hottest with 25°C closely followed by Bhuntar 24.4°C, Kangra 23.8°C, Sundernagar 23.7°C, Solan 20.8°C, Nahan 18.2°C. The key tourist resorts of Manali, Shimla and Dharamsala recorded 16.6°C, 16.3°C and 15.2°C followed by Kalpa 11.8°C.

The weather was good for Rabi crop and rising temperature has avoided the occurrence of yellow rust and limited moisture has brighten the prospects of bumper crop. However, the rise in temperature is causing worry to apple growers in mid hills as it may deprive the farmers of adequate number of chilling hours, Ravi Chauhan, a farmer from upper Shimla said.