HP: Snow, rain lead to sharp fall in day temperatures

High altitude tribal areas, higher reaches and mountain passes received another spell of moderate snowfall while the mid and lower hills experienced widespread rains, causing sharp fall in day temperatures.
Strong velocity icy winds swept the region while thick fog engulfed most areas, reducing visibility to a few metres and hampering vehicular traffic.
Tribal Lahaul and Pangi valleys were cut off due to heavy snow at Rohtang Pass which was closed for vehicular traffic. Rescue posts at Mari and Koksar have also been removed. The district administration has cautioned pedestrians against venturing to cross the pass.
The sprawling Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra, Churdhar ranges in Sirmaur, Rohtang Pass and other high altitude areas had another spell of moderate snowfall while the mid and lower hills had widespread rains.

Dhundi and Koksar received 60 cm of snow while Rohtang Pass and Mari had 50 cm and 35 cm of snow. Narkanda, Khara- Patthar, Chirgaon, Sangla received moderate snowfall while Kalpa received 17 cm of fresh snow till this evening.
The Hindustan-Tibet national highway was opened for traffic up to Rekong Peo while all major state highways remained opened for traffic. However, thick fog engulfed the region reducing visibility to few metres and vehicles were forced to move at a snail's pace with headlights on even during the day.

Manali was the wettest in the region with 34 mm of rains, followed by Kasauli 18 mm, Sri Naina Devi 17 mm, Berthin and Malraun 14 mm, Shimla 12 mm, and Dharamsala, Bhuntar and Jogindernagar 11 mm each.

Day temperatures dropped by five to eight notches to stay at 15.8 degrees in Una and 13.2 in Dharamsala, followed by Solan 12.8 degrees, Bhuntar 11.6, Sundernagar 11.2, Shimla 8.0, Manali 4.2, and Kalpa 0.4 degree Celsius.
However, minimum temperatures increased by two to three degrees and Keylong recorded a low of minus 7.6 deg Celsius, followed by Kalpa minus 1.2, Manali minus 1.0, Dalhousie 2.8, Shimla 3.2, Nahan 4.1, Dharamsala 4.4, Solan 5.5, Bhuntar 6.1, Palampur 6.8, Sundernagar 7, Mandi 9, and Bilaspur 9.9 degrees Celsius.
High altitude tribal areas groaned under biting cold wave conditions with mercury staying 12 to 20 degrees below the freezing point.

The local MeT office has predicted light rains or snow fall in higher hills tomorrow and dry weather in other parts of the state from tomorrow onwards.