Light rains in parts of Himachal, mercury dips in higher hills

Light rains occurred at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh, leading to marginal fall in temperatures in tribal areas and other higher hills.
Mercury dropped by two to three degrees to settle at 7.6 and 8.4 degree Celsius at Keylong and Kalpa respectively, while Manali recorded a low of 9.0 degrees, followed by Shimla 13.8, Bhuntar 14.8, Dharamsala and Solan 15.5, Nahan 15.7, Una 18.2 and Sundernagar 18.8 degrees Celsius.
Maximum temperature rose by one to two degrees in lower areas and Una was the hottest at 33.2 degrees, while Bhuntar and Sundernagar recorded maximums at 32.0 and 30.5 degrees respectively, followed Kangra 29.8, Nahan 27.2, Dharamsala 25.4, Shimla 24.0, Manali 23.1 and Kalpa 22.4 degrees Celsius.

The local MeT office has predicted dry weather in the region up to September 20 and revival of monsoons is unlikely as it normally withdraws from the region in the last week of September.
The monsoon deficit from June 1 to September 14 rose to 35 per cent today as the region received average rainfall of 509.8 mm rains against normal rainfall of 784.3 mm.
The region had near normal rainfall during the past four years and the deficit was 34 per cent in 2009.
The rain deficit was 45 per cent in 2004, 36 per cent in 2007, 34 per cent in 2009, 26.5 per cent in 2005 and 25 per cent in 2006 while the state received 11 per cent excess rains in 2008.