Cold wave intensifies in mid, higher hills of Himachal Pradesh

Cold wave sweeping the mid and higher hills of Himachal Pradesh intensified today as minimum temperatures dropped further by three to five degrees.

While Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts recorded minimum temperature at minus 2.1 and 2.2 degrees respectively, Manali, Bhuntar and Sundernagar shivered under piercing cold wave with mercury plummeting to 1 degree, 4 degrees and 4.8 degrees, 3 to 4 degrees below normal.

Una recorded a low of 5.3 degrees, four degrees below normal while Solan and Palampur recorded minimum temperature at 8 degrees, followed by Shimla 8.6 degrees, Nahaan 9 degrees and Dharamsala 9.3 degrees C.

The maximum temperature also dropped marginally and Una was hottest in the region with a high of 26.4 degrees, Sundernagar 25.9 degrees, Bhunter 25.2 degrees, Solan 24.5 degrees, Dharamshala 22.8 degrees, Nahan 21.8 degrees, Shimla 19.6 degree and Kalpa 18.2 degrees C.

The high altitude tribal areas and mounted passed reeled under biting cold wave conditions with minimum temperatures staying between minus six sand minus 10 degrees C.

All natural sources of water like lakes, springs and rivulets were frozen for past two weeks, resulting in sharp reduction in discharge of water in snowfed Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers, affecting hydropower generation.

The local MeT office has predicted dry weather in the region over next five days.