Mercury rises in parts of HP

The intense cold wave sweeping mid and higher hills of Himachal Pradesh abated to some extent as day temperature rose by few notches and stayed three to four degrees above normal.
Mercury rose to 26.2 degrees Celsius at Una, which was hottest in the region while Bhuntar, Sundernagar Solan recorded a high of 24 degrees Celsius, 23.4 and 21.4 respectively, followed by Nahan 19.4, Dharamsala 18.4, Shimla 17.4, Manali 15.6, Kalpa 12.8 and Keylong 4.1 degrees Celsius, according to the MeT department here.
The minimum temperatures also increased marginally and Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti recorded a low of minus 6.5 degrees Celsius, followed by Kalpa 1.0, Manali 1.8, Bhuntar 5.0, Solan 5.5, Sundernagar 5.9, Shimla 7.3, Palampur 7.0, Dharamsala and Nahan 7.8 and Una 8.3 degree Celsius.

Rains or snowfall is likely to occur at isolated mid and higher hills on February 21 and 22 as a fresh Western Disturbance may affect Western Himalayan region from February 20 onwards, the MeT office said.
The weather will remain dry in lower hills for next six days and in mid and higher hills from February 17 to 20, local MeT office said.