A warning of heavy rains or snowfall at isolated places in the State was today issued by the Indian Meterogical Department (IMD) even as the day temperatures rose marginally and weather remained dry and partially overcast today. “A Western Disturbance is most likely to affect the State on February 4 and 5 and light to moderate rainfall and snowfall likely to occur at many places with heavy snowfall at many places in mid and higher hills,” the IMD official said.
Rainfall or snow are likely at most places in mid and higher reaches on February 4 and 5 and isolated places from February 6 to 10 while rains and thundershowers are likely in lower hills over next three days, it added. Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) Manali also issued advisory that threat of Avalanches loomed large over the high altitude tribal areas and other higher hills of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir under freezing cold wave conditions with mercury ranging between minus 15 and minus 21 degrees Celsius.
The tribal areas and other higher hills continued to reel under biting cold wave conditions with Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts recording a low of minus 7.9 degrees Celsius and minus 0.4 degrees Celsius while tourist resort of Manali recorded minimum temperature at 3.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Solan 6 degrees Celsius, Bhuntar 6.5 degrees Celsius, Sundernagar 7.2 degrees Celsius, Shimla 7.8 degrees Celsius, Palampur 8 degrees Celsius, Dharamshala 8.2 degrees Celsius, Una 8.5 degrees Celsius and Nahan 9.1 degrees Celsius respectively.
The maximum temperatures rose by few notches and Una was hottest with a high of 24.4 degrees Celsius while Solan was warmer at 22.5 degrees Celsius, followed by Sundernagar 19.7 degrees Celsius, Shimla 19.6 degrees Celsius, Nahan 19.2 degrees Celsius, Bhuntar 19 degrees Celsius, Dharmshala 15.2 degrees Celsius and Kalpa 7.6 degrees Celsius respectively.
