Shimla, Dec 23 (UNI) The higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh, including Chamba, Lahaul Spiti, and Kinnaur, and a few parts of Kullu, Kangra, Shimla, and Mandi, had a light spell of rain and snowfall early in the morning on Saturday; however, most of the tourist resorts were partly cloudy and reeling under coldwave conditions for the past 24 hours.
Before Christmas, many high peaks in Lahaul Spiti, Chamba, and Kinnaur got a light to moderate spell of snowfall. Most of the places in the three districts are under freezing temperatures since last one month expected that more rain and snowfall would occur in the next 24 hours as clouds hovered over the sky.
Dhauladhar ranges and Barabangal of Kangra district, high passes, and high reaches of Kullu and Shimla were overcast, and rain and snowfall were expected.
Tourists who are booking for the Christmas and New Year party in the State Hills station may not be welcomed by the white Christmas and New Year; however, higher reaches, which are not accessible due to inclement weather conditions, may attract them.
Tourist resorts in Dalhousie, Shimla, Narkanda, and Manali have been partly cloudy since yesterday, but weathermen have not predicted any major changes in the prevailing weather conditions.
The maximum temperature may dip due to inclement weather conditions, but the minimum temperature stayed normal, as it was six degrees in Shimla and Manali, three degrees in Narkanda, and four degrees in Kufri and Solan.
The air quality index of Dharmshala and many hill stations in Una, Hamirpur, and Bilaspur was very poor, reducing visibility due to partly cloudy and fogy weather conditions.
IMD forecast fresh snowfall in the high reaches and two spells of rain in the isolated places in the mid-hills.
