Himachal warmer but snow in store

The hills of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday saw a rise in temperature due to long sunny days, but the Met Office here forecast chances of rain and more snowfall in the next two days.

"There are chances of light to moderate rainfall and snowfall at many places in the state with heavy falls at isolated places till February 5," Meteorological Office director Manmohan Singh told IANS.

He said the western disturbances - storm systems originating from Caspian Sea and moving across the Afghanistan-Pakistan region - would be active again in the region.

Most of the prominent tourist towns like Narkanda, Kufri, Manali and Kalpa may witness moderate snowfall, he said.

Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest place in the state with a low of minus 4.6 degrees Celsius.

Shimla recorded the minimum temperature at 9 degrees Celsius, whereas it was 7.8 degrees a day earlier.

Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded a low of zero degree Celsius, while it was 4 degrees at Manali and 7.8 degrees at Dharamsala.

--IANS

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