Mercury falls in Himachal after rain, snow; wet weather likely from Feb 27

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 24

Intense cold wave was witnessed in most parts of the state as the mercury plummeted after widespread rain in middle and lower hills, besides moderate snowfall in higher hills and tribal areas.

Shimla and surrounding areas had a clear day in the morning but dark clouds overcast the sky in the afternoon and high velocity winds, accompanied by rain, lashed the town.

Ghumarwin was the wettest in the region with 19 mm of rain while Pachhad and Bijahi received 15 mm and 13 mm of rain, respectively, followed by Dharampur and Baldwara with 12 mm, Shimla and Rajgarh with 10 mm, Kandaghat and Solan 9 mm, Arki and Jubbar Hatti 8 mm, Kahu 7 mm, Sangrah and Mehre 6 mm, Kumarsein 5 mm, Bilaspur and Janjehli 4 mm of rain.

The high altitude tribal areas reeled under biting cold conditions with mercury staying between -10 and -15 degrees Celsius.

Keylong in the tribal Lahaul and Spiti district recorded a low of -7.2 degrees Celsius while Manali and Kalpa shivered at -1.4 and -1.2 degrees Celsius, respectively, followed by Kufri with -0.2, Solan 3.6, Bhuntar 3.8, Shimla 4.1, Sundernagar 4.7, Palampur 5.5, Dharamsala 7.3 and Una 9.3 degrees Celsius.

The maximum day temperatures also dropped sharply.

Keylong was the coldest during the day with a high of 2.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Kalpa at 10, Manali and Shimla at 15.9, Palampur 17, Dharamsala 17.8, Solan 21, Sundernagar 22.9, Nahan 23, Bhuntar 23.4 and Una 26.7 degrees Celsius.