No respite from freezing cold wave in Himachal

Most parts of Himachal Pradesh continued to reel under biting cold wave as minimum temperatures hovered around freezing point in spite of dry weather in the state.
According to MeT department, mercury dipped to minus 11.7 degree at Keylong, while Manali and Kalpa recorded a low of minus 4.6 degrees and minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.
Solan and Bhuntar shivered under sub-zero temperatures with mercury staying at minus 0.5 degree, while Shimla recorded a low ofzero degree, followed byPalampur and Sundernagar 0.3 degree, Nahan 4.7 degrees, Dharamsala 5.0 degrees and Una 5.5 degrees Celsius, two to four degrees below normal.
The maximum temperatures dropped by one to two degrees and Manali was coldest during the day with maximum temperature at 10.6 degrees while Shimla and Kalpa recordeda high of 11.2 degrees and 11.4 degrees, followed by Una 12.6 degrees, Dharamsala 12.8 degrees, Nahan 13.4 degrees, Solan16.4 degrees, Sundernagar 18.1 degrees and Bhuntar 18.5degrees Celsius.

The region had a dry day today and the local MeT office has predicted dry weather in the region over next six days.
The cold dry spell is causing anxiety to farmers and apple growers as periodical rains and snowfall areessential for good Rabi and apple crops.
Snow is considered white manure for apple crop, but there has been practically no snowfall in the apple belt during December and January and the deficit was 86 per cent till January 21.