Himachal Pradesh is grappling with an extended dry spell over the past two months, with October and November marking a significant rain deficiency. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the ongoing dry period closely resembles the conditions in 2016 when no rainfall was recorded across any observatory in the state during November.
Head of IMD Himachal Pradesh Kuldeep Srivastava confirmed that this year’s November has been similarly dry. “Our records from 2016 show no normal rainfall during that November. This year mirrors that scenario, with little to no rainfall reported across the state. The forecast for the next three to five days also indicates no significant rainfall,” he said.
Dr. Srivastava emphasized the rarity of such dry conditions, noting that this November marks the first such occurrence in eight years. “This dry November is unusual. The lower Himalayan regions, typically influenced by western disturbances, have received very little precipitation,” he added.
While light rainfall is anticipated on November 23 in high-altitude areas such as Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, and parts of Kangra, the current western disturbances have had minimal impact. Dr. Srivastava explained, “The western disturbances affecting Himachal Pradesh are weak, and their influence is limited to select high-altitude regions, resulting in prolonged dryness across the state.”
Himachal Pradesh relies heavily on western disturbances for winter precipitation from November to April. However, this season’s disturbances have been feeble, contributing to the ongoing dry spell.
The lack of rainfall has led to a noticeable drop in temperatures across the state, with regions like Shimla experiencing declines of up to 7 degrees Celsius over the past 20 days. As winter progresses, further drops in temperature are expected.
Daytime conditions remain sunny, but foggy weather is forecast around Bhakra Dam and nearby areas like Bilaspur and Hamirpur on November 24 and 25. The IMD attributes the fog to residual moisture from the minor western disturbance expected on November 23.