Shimla, Oct 8 (UNI) With rainfall and snowfall continuing, severe cold has gripped all parts of the state, the Shimla-based office of the Met department said today.
Himachal Pradesh has experienced its earliest snowfall this year.
Previously, Keylong recorded early snowfall on October 11, 2018, with 6 centimeters of snow.
However, this time, more than 25 centimeters of snow was recorded on October 6.
The state’s average maximum temperature has dropped 11.2 degrees below normal.
Chamba’s maximum temperature has dropped to 14.8 degrees Celsius, down from 17.7 degrees Celsius.
Dalhousie’s temperature also dropped to just 6.3 degrees Celsius, down from 16.7 degrees Celsius.
Manali’s temperature dropped to 10.8 degrees after a fall of 12.6 degrees.
Kangra’s temperature dropped to 17.0 degrees after a drop of 13.0 degrees, Mandi’s temperature dropped to 16.8 degrees after a drop of 13.0 degrees, Bilaspur’s temperature dropped to 17.9 degrees after a drop of 13.5 degrees, and Hamirpur’s temperature dropped to 16.6 degrees after a drop of 14.8 degrees.
Similarly, the minimum temperature in most cities also dropped below normal. Kalpa and Keylong’s temperatures dropped to minus 10 degrees.
Meanwhile, the Manali-Leh road was blocked due to snowfall, and vehicles heading towards Ladakh were stopped at Darcha, officials said.
In Lahaul-Spiti, Gondhla received 30 cm of snow, followed by Keylong (15 cm), Hansa (5 cm), and Kukumseri (3.2 cm).
Moderate to very heavy rain lashed the low and middle hills of the state, with Naina Devi receiving 132.6 mm of rain since last evening, followed by Solan (119.6 mm), Berthin (78.6 mm), Pachhad (78.2 mm), Malraon (75.4 mm), Kasauli (68 mm), Bharmani (67.2 mm), Bilaspur (64.8 mm), Kahu (64.1 mm), Dharampur (62.4 mm), and Ghaghas (55 mm), the local weather office said.
Thunderstorms were witnessed in Murari Devi, Kangra, Palampur, Sundernagar, Jubbarhatti, and Shimla, while gusty winds swept Narkanda, Kufri, Neri, and Tabo.
The Met department has forecast light rain at isolated places in the low and middle hills, and light rain and snow in the higher hills today and tomorrow, followed by dry weather.
The minimum temperatures stayed below normal at most places, with Kukumseri in Lahaul-Spiti recording the lowest temperature at minus 2.5 degrees Celsius.
Himachal Pradesh received 44.2 mm of rain against a normal of 6.1 mm—an excess of 625 percent—in the post-monsoon season from October 1 to 7.
