With the minimum temperature in Himachal remaining below normal and many places reeling under sub-zero temperatures; the cold waves have hit hard the hill state which is waiting for its first heavy snowfall of the season.
Himachal is waiting for its season’s first spell of heavy snowfall. The feeble western disturbances originating from the Mediterranean sea have failed to bring the desired amount of snow so far. But, the state is reeling under dry cold conditions which are also affecting the neighbouring states. While the temperature in some upper parts of Himachal has plunged below minus 15 degrees C, the mercury in the mid-hills has also plunged below the freezing point.
The minimum temperature in many parts of Spiti has dropped below minus 15 degrees C. The Nako lake of Kinnaur has also frozen where children are learning ice skating. Spiti river has frozen at its source. The water in hand pumps too is freezing at night time. Losar, Kibber, Komic, Langza, Hikkam, Chicham, Kee, Rangrik, Hal and Kaza villages have frozen with temperatures plunging below minus 15 degrees C.
Lahaul-Spiti district headquarters Keylong recorded the lowest temperature of minus 11 on Wednesday morning at 8:30am. The temperature at many other villages in Lahaul is below minus 10 degrees C and all the water sources have frozen. A thin layer of ice is depositing on the Chenab river. The Chandratal lake has also frozen completely and become walkable.
On Wednesday morning, Manali recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.2 degrees C. The temperature at Atal tunnel, Gulaba, Hamta and other higher places in Manali is much lower. The water sources are partially freezing here. The temperature is too much lower in the morning and evening time, but people are enjoying basking in the sun at day time. The Bhrigu, Dashaur and Rani Sui lakes here have also frozen completely.
The state capital Shimla recorded a minimum temperature of 1.7 degrees C while it was 5.2 degrees C in Dharamshala. Kalpa in Kinnaur (minus 4.2), Kufri in Shimla (minus 0.9, Solan (minus 0.2), Narkanda (minus 2.2), Seobagh in Kullu (minus 1.3), Sundernagar (minus 0.9) and Bhuntar (minus 0.2) recorded sub-zero temperatures.
The meteorological centre, Shimla, has predicted dry weather conditions in the next 48 hours while another western disturbance will hit the state on January 7. The centre said the average minimum temperature in Himachal was below normal but the maximum temperature was normal. It has predicted snowfall in some parts of the state from January 8 onwards.
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