Fresh snowfall, scattered rains in Himachal Pradesh

Chilly conditions prevailed in several areas of Himachal Pradesh as tribal belts and higher reaches received fresh snowfall while the mid and lower hills saw intermittent rains, accompanied by sharp showers.
While Keylong and Kalpa tribal areas received 15 cm and 12 cm of snow, Rohtang, Kunzam and Saach passes had 25 to 40 cm of snow, causing sharp fall in mercury in adjoining valleys.
The sprawling Dhauladhar ranges was under a thick blanket of snow.
The mid and lower hills had scattered rains, causing marginal fall in mercury.
An overcast sky with high velocity winds accompanied by showers forced people to stay indoors in Shimla and surrounding areas.

Dharamsala, which was lashed by a severe hailstorm yesterday, was wettest in the region with 53 mm rains, followed by Gaggal 21 mm, 16 mm in Kothi, 14 mm in Manali, 11 mm in Bhuntar, 9 mm in Dharampur and Jubbal, 7 mm Baijnath and 6 mm in Shimla.

Maximum temperatures fluctuated marginally and Una was hottest during the day with a high of 30.4 degrees, followed by Sundernagar 24.2 degrees, Nahan 24.0 degrees, Dharamsala 19.2 degrees, Solan 19.0 degrees, Bhuntar 15.6 degrees, Shimla 14.6 degrees, Manali 8.6 degrees and Kalpa 4.0 degrees.
Minimum temperatures dropped marginally and Keylong tribal area was coldest with a low ofminus 4.7 degrees while Kalpa and Manali recorded minimum temperatures at 0.6 degrees and 3.0 degrees respectively, followedby Shimla and Dalhousie at 5.8 degrees, Bhuntar 7.0 degrees, Dharamsala 8.4 degrees, Solan 10.2 degrees, Nahan 12.2 degrees and Una 14.0 degrees.

The local MeT office has predicted rain or snow at isolated places in mid-hills tomorrow and dry weather in the state over next three days.
The mid and higher hills are likely to have snow and rain for three days from March 24.