Shimla: First snowfall of the season, cold increased
Himachal Pradesh: Shimla and its adjoining tourist towns of Kufri and Fagu received the first snowfall of the season on Sunday, while higher reaches of Lahaul and Spiti district continued to receive intermittent snowfall, increasing the cold in the surrounding valleys. Light snowfall started in the higher reaches of Lahaul and Spiti and Kullu districts this evening. A thin layer of snow settled in Lahaul, affecting traffic as roads became slippery and made movement hazardous. Temperatures dropped below normal in many other parts of the state, including Shimla. According to the Meteorological Department, sporadic to fairly widespread rainfall is likely in the next 12 to 24 hours.
Shimla and its adjoining areas received light to moderate snowfall at a few places. Snow flakes started falling in Shimla and Kufri in the evening. Light to moderate rain/snowfall occurred at a few places in Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba, Kinnaur, Kangra, Shimla and Kullu districts. Light rainfall is forecast at some places over Solan, Sirmaur, Una, Bilaspur, Mandi and Hamirpur districts. Besides, light rain/snowfall is likely at isolated places over mid and high mountain areas on December 10. The lowest minimum temperature of minus 13.1 degrees Celsius was recorded at Tabo in Lahaul-Spiti, followed by Kukumseri (6.9 degrees Celsius), Kalpa (-3.3 degrees Celsius), Reckong Peo (-1 degrees Celsius) and Narkanda (-0.8 degrees Celsius).
The mercury hovered around the freezing point at several other places. Seubagh recorded a minimum temperature of 0 degrees Celsius, Bajaura (0.1 degrees Celsius), Manali (0.2 degrees Celsius), Kufri (0.4 degrees Celsius) Solan (0.5 degrees Celsius), Una (1 degrees Celsius) and Shimla (2.5 degrees Celsius). The maximum temperature also remained below normal, with Una recording the highest temperature of 22.8 degrees Celsius. According to the weather department, the minimum and maximum temperatures are likely to fall by 3 degrees Celsius or 4 degrees Celsius in the next three days. Dense fog will prevail in parts of the reservoir areas of Bhakra Dam (Bilaspur) and Balh Valley (Mandi) during morning, early morning and late night hours on December 10 and 11. The state has been reeling under drought for more than two months now. Fruit growers and farmers have been adversely affected due to the prolonged drought.
