Himachal Pradesh experienced its first snowfall of the season on Sunday (December 8), as Shimla and nearby towns like Kufri and Fagu were blanketed in snow, while higher altitudes in Lahaul and Spiti districts saw intermittent snowfall, intensifying the cold across the region.
Temperatures plummeted sharply, with Tabo recording the coldest at a chilling minus 13.1 degrees Celsius. Other areas also reported frigid conditions, including Kukumseri at minus 6.9 degrees Celsius, Kalpa at minus 3.3 degrees Celsius, Reckong Peo at minus 1 degree Celsius, and Narkanda at minus 0.8 degrees Celsius.
Near-freezing temperatures in several regions
In Shimla, the temperature hovered around 2.5 degrees Celsius, while several other towns recorded near-freezing temperatures. Seobagh saw a low 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 degree Celsius, and Shimla 2.5 degrees Celsius.
High-altitude tribal regions experienced fresh snowfall, raising concerns about potential traffic disruptions. In Lahaul, a thin layer of snow created hazardous travel conditions, with slippery roads making travel difficult, according to PTI.
Himachal to see more snow and rain as temperature drops
The Meteorological Department has forecast snow and rain at isolated places across the mid and high hills on Tuesday, with maximum temperatures across the state falling below normal levels. Una’s maximum temperature reached only 22.8 degrees Celsius.
The weather office predicts rain and moderate snow in parts of Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba, Kinnaur, Kangra, Shimla, and Kullu districts, as well as light precipitation in Solan, Sirmaur, Una, Bilaspur, Mandi, and Hamirpur districts through Monday.
The weather forecast also indicates that temperatures are expected to drop by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius in the coming days. A ‘yellow’ warning for dense fog has been issued for areas around the Bhakra Dam in Bilaspur and the Balh Valley in Mandi until Wednesday.
