Himachal Pradesh capital Shimla experienced the coldest night of the season as mercury dipped to 5.8°C and high altitude tribal areas received another spell of fresh snowfall.
The minimum temperature dropped by a few notches across the State and Keylong in lahaul and Spiti district was coldest in the region with a low of minus 5.1°C while high altitude tribal areas reeled under piercing cold wave conditions with mercury ranging between minus 7°C and minus 12°C. The minimum temperatures hovered around freezing point at Kalpa and Manali while it dipped to 2.3°C at Bhuntar and Sundernagar and 3.4°C at Solan and Chamba, two degrees below normal.
Una in Shivalik foothills recorded the minimum temperature at 4.8°C, followed by Palampur 5.5°C, Dharamshala 6.8°C and Nahan 7.8°C respectively. All natural sources of water like lakes, springs, rivulets and tributaries of major rivers and 70 km stretch of Chadrabhaga river were frozen due to intense cold wave conditions.
The discharge of water has reduced drastically in snow-fed rivers, affecting hydropower generation. There was no significant change in maximum temperatures and it was a clear day in most parts of the region. The local MeT office has predicted dry weather in the region over the next three days.