Cold wave conditions continue in mid, higher hills in HP

The mid and higher hills of Himachal Pradesh saw no respite from the biting cold wave conditions today.
The local MeT office predicted rains or snow at isolated places in higher hills from February 15 and mid hills from February 17.
A fresh western Disturbance is likely to affect western Himalayan region from February 14 onwards and rains or snowfall is likely to occur in higher hills from February 15 and in mid hills from February 17 onwards, the MeT office said today. However, it said, the weather would remain dry in lower hills of the state.
Meanwhile, the night temperatures remained below normal and high altitude tribal areas reeled under piercing cold wave conditions with mercury settling between 16 and 22 degrees Celsius below freezing point.

Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts recorded minimum temperatures at 11.8 degrees Celsius and 5.2 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The key tourist resort of Manali shivered at 0.2 degrees Celsius, while Solan and Bhuntar recorded a low of 3.2 degrees Celsius and Bhuntar 3.4 degrees Celsius, respectively, followed by Sundernagar 4.3 degrees Celsius, Palampur 5.0 degrees Celsius, Shimla 5.5 degrees Celsius and Dharamsala 9.2 degrees Celsius

The maximum temperatures rose marginally and Una in Shiwalik foothills was hottest with a high of 26.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Sundernagar and Bhuntar 23.2 degrees Celsius, Solan 21.4 degrees Celsius, Nahan 21.0 degrees Celsius, Shimla 17.0 degrees Celsius and Dharmshala 16.8 degrees Celsius.

While the rains are good for rabi and apple crops, the continued low temperatures and moisture has raised the risk of outbreak of yellow rust disease in wheat.
The farmers have been advised by the farm experts to take precautions and spray fungicides at regular intervals till the temperature rises.