The intense cold wave in most parts of Himachal Pradesh continued unabated today as mercury hovered around the freezing point at many places.
High tribal areas froze under arctic conditions with mercury staying between minus 10 and minus 18 degree C.
The water taps froze at many places in mid and higher hills, thick ground frost occurred in higher hills while thick for engulfed towns along the river banks, hampering vehicular traffic in the morning hours.
Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur district recorded minimum temperatures at minus 5.0 deg and minus 2.4 deg while Manali, Bhuntar, Sundernagar and Solan shivered under piercing cold wave conditions with a low of minus 2.0 degree, minus 0.2 degree, 0.3 degree and 1.4 degree c, three degree below normal.
Una and Nahan recorded a low of 3.5 deg and 4.7 deg while Shimla and Dharamsala registered minimum temperatures at 4.5 deg and 5.8 deg C.
The maximum day temperatures remained moderate with Sundernagar and Una recording a high of 20.0 deg and 19.8 deg while Solan and Bhuntar registered minimum temperature at 19.5 deg and 19.0 deg, followed by Dharamsala 14.8 deg, Shimla 14.2 deg, Manali 10.6 deg and Kalpa 10.2 deg C.
The local MeT office has predicted dry weather in the region during the next four days and rains or snow from December 31 onwards in mid and higher hills.
