Himachal Pradesh’s Keylong, Kalpa and Manali recorded sub-zero temperature despite dry weather in the state in the last 24 hours.
The Shimla Meteorological (MeT) Department said the tribal district Lahaul-Spiti’s administrative centre Keylong was the coldest place in the state at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius while Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded a low of minus 4.1 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature in Manali and Dalhousie was recorded at minus 1 degree Celsius each. Solan recorded a low of minus 0.8 degrees.
Himachal’s capital Shimla recorded a minimum of 2.6 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature in the state was recorded in Bilaspur at 6.2 degrees Celsius.
The Met Department has forecast dry weather in Himachal till December 22.
Meanwhile, a severe cold wave swept Haryana and Punjab on Wednesday, with Amritsar reeling at 2 degrees Celsius. According to the Chandigarh Meteorological Department, maximum and minimum temperatures dropped several notches below normal limits across the two states and their common capital Chandigarh.
The Met Department has forecast severe cold weather conditions are likely to continue over the next two days in Haryana and Punjab.
In Punjab, Ludhiana recorded a low of 6.2 degrees Celsius, down one notch while the maximum temperature settled at 11.9 degrees Celsius, down 10 degrees. Patiala recorded a minimum of 6.5 degrees Celsius, down one degree while maximum settled at 13.8 degrees Celsius, eight below normal limits.
Cold wave swept Narnaul in Haryana, which recorded a low of 3.4 degrees Celsius, down three notches while Hisar’s minimum settled at 4 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal. Ambala, Bhiwani and Karnal also experienced the chill recording respective minimum temperatures of 5.5 degrees Celsius, 5.9 degrees Celsius and 78.6 degrees Celsius.
The joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh recorded below normal minimum and maximum temperatures at 6.2 degrees Celsius and 16.6 degrees Celsius respectively.