Mercury soars, Shimla logs highest max temp for January
Temperatures have seen a huge spike in the state over the last couple of days.
On Friday, Shimla recorded its highest ever maximum temperature (22 degree Celsius) for the month of January, and the second highest minimum temperature (11.5 degree Celsius) for the month over the last 25 years. While the highest temperature is 10.4 degree Celsius above normal, the minimum temperature is 8.5 degree Celsius above normal.
Meanwhile, Manali also logged its second highest minimum temperature of 7.2 degree Celsius with a deviation of 8.5 degree from normal temperature. Both Shimla and Manali had recorded their highest minimum temperature for the month of January since 2001 in 2009 – Shimla had logged 12.7 degree Celsius on January 24, while Manali had recorded 7.5 degree Celsius) on January 25.
Besides, most stations have recorded above normal minimum temperatures, with the average deviation being 4.4 degree Celsius. Similarly, the average maximum temperatures are up by 4.8 degree Celsius from normal temperatures.
Kuldeep Srivastava, Director, Meteorological Centre, Shimla, attributed the spike in the temperatures to the upcoming Western Disturbance that will hit the region on the evening or night of January 5. “Temperatures tend to rise ahead of a fresh Western Disturbance. Also, clear skies for the last couple of days and change in wind directions have also contributed to the rise in temperatures,” he said.
Srivastava said there’s a possibility of widespread snowfall and rainfall on January 6 in the state following the advent of Western Disturbance.
