Cold wave grips Himachal; snowfall in high hills

Most parts of Himachal Pradesh today shivered under piercing cold wave conditions as high altitude tribal areas and other higher ranges received another spell of moderate snowfall and foggy conditions prevailed in mid and lower hills.
The mercury dropped by a few notches and Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district recorded minimum temperature at minus 4.6 degrees Celsius while Manali and Kalpa recorded a low of minus 3 degree and minus 2.2 degree Celsius.
The high altitude tribal areas groaned under biting cold wave conditions with minimum temperatures staying between minus eight and minus 14 degrees Celsius.
All natural sources of water like springs, lakes, rivulets and tributaries of major rivers were frozen, resulting in sharp fall in discharge of water into snowfed rivers, affecting hydropower generation which has dropped to 25 to 40 per cent of capacity.

The mercury hovered around freezing point at some places in lower hills and also high altitude areas and Bhuntar and Una recorded minimum temperature at 2.0 and 2.7 degrees, while Dalhousie and Shimla shivered at 3.0 and 3.4 degrees, followed by Sundernagar 5.2, Solan 6.0, Dharamsala 6.6 and Nahan 8.9 degrees Celsius.
The sky remained heavily overcast and fog engulfed the region during the day time, further aggravating the cold wave conditions.

Dark convective clouds overcast the sky in state capital Shimla and strong velocity icy winds swept the region causing sharp fall in day temperature which dropped to 8.8 degrees Celsius, forcing people to stay indoors.

Una in Shivalik foothills recorded a high of 19.6 degrees, followed by Bhuntar 18.0, Solan 16.4, Dharamsala 14.8, Sundernagar 14.1, Nahan 13.1, Manali 9.4 and Kalpa 7.6 degrees Celsius.
The weather office has predicted rains or snow at some places in higher hills tomorrow and dry weather in rest of the state over the next four days.