Mercury rises in HP even as region had mild snow and rains

The sprawling Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra, Churdhar ranges in Sirmaur, mighty Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft) and other high altitude areas in the state had mild snowfall, accompanied by strong velocity icy winds while mid and lower hills, including the state capital Shimla had light rains.

The entire tribal belt comprising Keylong and Udaipur in Lahaul and Spiti, Kaza in Kinnaur and Pangi and Bharmaur in Chamba districts also received intermittent snowfall.

Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti and Rohtang Pass recorded 5 cm and 10 cm of fresh snow while Dharamsala had 3 mm of rains.

Keylong was coldest in the region with minimum temperature at minus 7.1 degree Celsius while night temperature improved to stay at minus 0.6 degree C.

The sky remained heavily overcast but minimum temperature increased by four degrees to stay at 8.4 degree C at Shimla, 6.4 degree C above normal while Dharamsala, Una and Solan recorded a low of 9.4 degree, 7.0 degree and 6.0 degree C respectively.

Manali and Mandi shivered under biting cold wave conditions with minimum temperatures at 1.0 degree and 1.6 degree while Palampur, Bhuntar, Sundernagar and Nahan recorded a low of 3.0 degree, 3.7 degree, 4.3 degree and 5.3 degree Celsius respectively, two to three degree below normal.

The maximum day temperatures also increased by three to four degrees and Una and Sundernagar recorded maximum temperatures at 23.2 and 23.0 degree C respectively.

Western Disturbance (WD) as an upper air system was lying over north Pakistan and adjoining areas and a fresh WD would affect the western Himalayan region from January 15 onwards, local MeT office said.