Himachal braces for fresh snow, rain; yellow warning issued for November 4

The higher hills of Himachal Pradesh are set to witness fresh snowfall, while the rest of the state will experience light rainfall on November 4 and 5, as a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the Western Himalayan region. The State Meteorological Department has issued a yellow weather warning for Mandi, Kangra, Chamba, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, and Una districts for November 4, resulting in thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas of these districts over the next 24 hours.

According to the department, light snowfall is likely to occur in Kinnaur, Lahaul, and Spiti, as well as in the higher reaches of Shimla, Mandi, Kullu, Kangra, and Chamba districts. Light rainfall is also expected in many parts of the state over the next 48 hours. Additionally, the state will experience cold wave conditions, with minimum temperatures expected to drop by 4°C to 5°C over the next three days. Maximum temperatures are also likely to fall by 3°C to 6°C during the same period. However, the weather will remain dry across the state from November 6 onwards.

Meanwhile, dry weather conditions prevailed across the state over the past 24 hours, with most areas witnessing a bright sunny day. Minimum temperatures across the state were 2°C to 3°C above normal, ranging from -1°C to 18°C. Maximum temperatures were also 2°C to 3°C above normal, ranging from 15°C to 31°C.

Shimla, the state capital, recorded a maximum temperature of 19.8°C, while Dharamshala recorded 25°C. Manali recorded 19.5°C, Mandi 27.7°C, Kangra 26.7°C, Nahan 24.8°C, Kalpa 20.2°C, Bhuntar and Sundernagar 27°C each, Hamirpur 30.2°C, Kufri 16.9°C, Kasauli 19.5°C, and Reckong Peo 24.2°C. Una recorded the highest maximum temperature in the state at 30.4°C, while Kukumseri village in Lahaul and Spiti district recorded the lowest minimum temperature at -1.5°C.