Mercury hovered around freezing point in most parts of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday and the State’s higher reaches reeled under arctic conditions where mercury stayed between minus 18 to minus 28 degrees Celsius.
Keylong experienced the coldest night with a minimum of minus 15.9 degrees, followed by Kalpa minus 6.6 degrees,Manali minus 4.6 degrees, Bhuntar minus 0.6 degrees, Una 0.1 degrees, Sundernagar 0.4 degrees and Solan 0.7 degrees.
Palampur recorded minimum temperature at 1.5 degree while Dharamsala and Nahan recorded a low of 4.4 degrees and 6.8 degrees. Water supply was disrupted at many places in mid and higher hills as water pipes froze and burst due to severe cold. Ground frost made the roads slippery in the morning hours, making driving hazardous. Thick fog engulfed the towns along the river banks, causing further drop in mercury, making people shiver in spite of a clear day in the morning.
The maximum day temperatures rose marginally and Una in Shivalik hills was warmest with maximum temperature at 22.2 degrees while Sundernagar and Solan recorded a high of 19.3 degrees, and 19.2 degrees, followed by Nahan 16.9 degrees, Dharamshala 16.2 degrees, Bhunter 16.0 degrees, Shimla 11.8 degrees and Kalpa 7.8 degrees. The Met Office has predicted rains, thunderstorm and snow at some places from February 1 to February 4.