MeT predicts rain/snow in higher hills on Jan 16-17
In a notable weather shift, the minimum temperatures across Himachal Pradesh took a significant dip, with Kukumseri in Lahaul and Spiti district registering a bone-chilling minus 7.2 degrees Celsius. The drop follows a day where temperatures remained three to 10 degrees Celsius above normal.
The meteorological station in the state reported dry weather conditions, and forecasts indicate the possibility of light rain or snow at isolated places in higher hills on January 16 and 17. The change is attributed to a fresh western disturbance expected to impact the western Himalayan region starting Tuesday.
After a warmer-than-usual Saturday, the minimum temperatures experienced a decline of three to five notches on Sunday. Kukumseri, which had risen to 0.9 degrees Celsius on Saturday, a notable 10.3 degrees above normal, witnessed a drastic change with a drop to minus 7.2 degrees Celsius, marking a 6.3-degree variation.
Dharamsala and Shimla, which recorded minimum temperatures at 9.2 degrees Celsius and 9 degrees Celsius on Saturday, experienced a decrease to 7.5 degrees Celsius and 6.2 degrees Celsius, respectively, on Sunday.
In the tribal Lahaul and Spiti district, Keylong, which initially recorded a minimum temperature of 0.2 degrees Celsius, witnessed a cooler night with a low of minus 4.6 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Chamba emerged as the hottest district in the state, reporting a high of 22.3 degrees Celsius.
Shimla and Dharamsala recorded maximum temperatures at 17 and 20.5 degrees Celsius, exceeding normal levels by 6.1 and 4.9 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Looking ahead, the Meteorological Department issued a warning of dense fog in isolated pockets of Mandi, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Una, Kangra (Nurpur), Sirmaur (Paonta Sahib and Dhaula Kuan), and Solan (Baddi and Nalagarh) districts over the next two days. This fog may lead to poor visibility and disruptions in vehicular traffic during the morning hours. Residents and travelers are advised to exercise caution as the region experiences this weather transition.