Cold wave grips tribal areas, higher hills of Himachal Pradesh

Intense cold wave conditions gripped the tribal areas and higher hills of Himachal Pradesh as the mercury dipped below freezing point. The minimum temperature ranged between minus five and minus nine degrees Celsius in high altitude tribal areas and mountain passes, according to the MeT department.

All natural sources of water like lakes, springs, rivulets and tributaries of major snow-fed rivers were frozen, leading to sharp fall in discharge of water and reduction in hydel power generation.

The minimum temperature dropped to minus 12 degrees Celsius at Keylong while Manali and Kalpa recorded a low of 3.0 and 4.2 degrees Celsius respectively, followed by Bhuntar 8.0 degrees, Sundernager 8.3, Solan and Una 8.4, Shimla 10.2 and Nahan 10.7 degrees Celsius. 

The minimum temperatures hovered mostly two to four degrees below normal. There was no appreciable change in maximum temperatures and Una was the hottest with maximum temperature at 28.6 degrees Celsius. 

Sundernagar recorded a high of 27.3 degrees Celsius, followed by Bhunter 26.4, Solan 24.5, Nahan 23.3, Dharamsala 22.8, Shimla 19.1 and Kalpa 18.4 degrees Celsius. The MeT office has predicted rains, snow and thunderstorm at isolated places during the next 24 hours with marginal fall in night temperatures.