Mercury rises in Himachal Pradesh, Una touches 40 deg C mark

The mercury continued with its rising trend in most parts of Himachal Pradesh, with Una in the Shivalik foothills touching the 40 degree Celsius mark.
The temperatures in Sundernagar, Nahan and Bhuntar were recorded four degrees above normal at 34.2 deg C, 33.3 deg C and32.6 deg C respectively.
The state capitalShimla and key tourist resort of Manali also witness above normal temperatures. The maximum temperatures recorded in Shimla and Manali were 25.4 degree Celsius and 26 deg C, five and 4. 5 deg C above normal while the mercury touched 31.2 deg C and 30.4 deg C mark in Solan and Dharamsala respectively.

The minimum temperature also rose marginally and Keylong and Kalpa recorded a low of 1.8 degree Celsius and 6 deg C while in Manali it was 9 degree Celsius, followed by Bhuntar 11 deg C, Sundernagar 12.9 deg C, Dharamsala and Solan 13.2 deg C each and Una 15.3 degree Celsius.
Shimla had warmer night as compared to most of the places in the mid and lower hills with minimum temperature rising to 15.9 degree, about 4.5 degree above normal while Palampur and Nahan recorded a low of 16 degree C and 20.5 degree C respectively.
The local Met office has forecast dry weather in the region till April 19, and rains or snow at isolated places in mid and higher hills while thunderstorms at some places in the lower hills on April 20 and 21.