Fresh snowfall adds to chill in HP

The higher hills received fresh snowfall in Himachal Pradesh today while lower areas of the state had scattered rains, causing sharp decline in day temperatures.
Higher reaches in tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Pangi, Bharmaur and Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra, Rohtang, Kunzam and Chansel passes are experiencing heavy snowfall since this afternoon while mid and lower hills of Kullu, Mandi and Kangra had moderate rains.
The Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) has cautioned against avalanche threat, and Kullu and Kinnaur district administrations have advised the people living in high altitude areas above 2500 mts to stay indoors over next few days and refrain from venturing out during heavy snowfall.

The high altitude tribal areas reeled under piercing cold wave conditions as mercury stayed 12 to 20 degree below freezing point while minimum temperatures rose marginally in rest of the state due to clouded sky, the Met office said.
Keylong and Kalpa recorded a low of minus 6.6 degree and minus 5.0 degree while Manali and Bhunter Shivered at 0.2 deg and 1.0 degree, followed by Shimla 2.5 degree, Solan 3.5 degree, Sundernagar 4.3 degree Una and Dharamsala 4.5 degree, Palampur 5.5 degree and Nahan 7.9 degree C.
However, the maximum day temperatures dropped sharply by six to eight degrees as region was swept by strong velocity icy winds and sky remained heavily overcast.

Nahan in Sirmaur district recorded maximum temperatures at 14.7 degree while Dharamshala and Solan recorded a high of 13.2 degree and 13.0 degree, followed by Una 12.8 degree, Manali 8.0 degree and Kalpa 6.6 degree C.

Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded maximum temperatures at 11.1 and 11.0 deg respectively against 19.9 deg and 19.0 deg yesterday while Shimla recorded a high of Shimla 8.3 deg against 15.4 degree yesterday.
Dharamsala and Manali recorded 4.2 mm and 3 mm of rains till this evening while Una, Bhuntar and Kangra had 1.0 mm rains.
The local MeT office has predicted snowfall and thunder storms in the region over next two days as an upper air cyclonic circulation now lies over north Rajasthan and adjoining Punjab and Haryana, and another induced upper air cyclonic circulation lies over Kutch and adjoining south Pakistan extending up to 1.5 km above mean sea level.