Himachal: State heading towards warm and dry winter

Himachal Pradesh: Another bad news is coming from the Meteorological Department for the state which has been facing drought for the last two months. According to the Meteorological Department, the winter months from December to February are likely to be warmer than normal. Meteorological Department scientist Shobhit Katiyar said, “According to the temperature pattern and number of cold wave days, the state is likely to have warmer than normal winters this year.” According to the department, the average maximum temperature is likely to be above normal and the average minimum temperature is likely to be above normal. Also, the number of cold wave days will decrease by about 10-20 percent in most parts of the state in these three months. Apart from the indication of a warm winter, the temperature pattern and low number of cold wave days also indicate a dry winter. Anyway, the rain forecast for December is not encouraging. According to the department, most parts of the state are likely to receive below normal rainfall this month except Una, Hamirpur and parts of adjoining Kangra district. Though the department has not released the rainfall forecast for the month of January and February, the warm temperatures and less number of cold wave days suggest that the state may receive below normal rainfall in these two months. The below normal rainfall in January and February in the last few years in the state also reflects the trend of less rainfall in winters. Having already endured a two-month long drought, the forecast of a warm and possibly dry winter is shocking for the fruit growers and farmers of the state. Harish Chauhan, a progressive apple grower from Rohru, said, “It almost seems like a repeat of last year when we got little snowfall in late February and March. This change in weather is going to be a big challenge for the fruit growers and farmers of the state.” Apple growers especially feel that the prolonged drought will put the plants under stress and eventually most of the plants will die. “Moreover, the impact of erratic weather can be seen in the form of a continuous decline in apple production in the last few years. Irregular weather has emerged as a big challenge, but no serious efforts are being made at any level to tackle this challenge,” says Chauhan.