Himachal Pradesh witnessed a fresh spell of light snowfall on its high-altitude mountain passes and peaks over the last 24 hours, leading to a noticeable dip in temperatures across the state. The meteorological conditions have created a mix of winter chill and surprising warmth in different regions.
Snowfall and Temperature Plunge
Light snow was reported at several key high-altitude passes including Rohtang Pass, Kunzum Pass, Shinkula Pass, and Baralacha La. Dense cloud cover enveloped areas like Shimla, Kullu, and the Lahaul valley since morning. The snowfall has intensified the winter cold, with minimum temperatures dropping below 10 degrees Celsius at 24 different locations statewide. The coldest spots were Tabo and Kukumseri, where the mercury fell into sub-zero territory.
IMD Forecast and Fog Disruption
According to the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, the weather pattern is set to become more active. A fresh western disturbance, observed as a cyclonic circulation over Jammu and nearby areas, is likely to cause light rain or snowfall at a few places in the high hills and isolated spots in mid-hill regions on December 20 and 21, 2025. Districts such as Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Kinnaur, and Lahaul-Spiti are expected to be affected. Dry weather is predicted for the remaining days of the week.
The department has issued a yellow alert for fog in districts adjoining reservoirs during morning and evening hours on December 18 and 19. Dense fog has already disrupted normal life in Bilaspur, Sirmaur, and Mandi districts, with poor visibility in reservoir and low-lying areas slowing vehicular movement to a crawl during mornings and evenings.
Rainfall Anomaly and a Record Warm Day
Despite the chill in the hills, the rainfall anomaly is projected to remain normal over most low hills, plains, and mid-hill areas. It is expected to be normal to above normal in many parts of the high hills.
In a contrasting weather event, Dharamshala recorded its warmest December day on Wednesday, December 17, with the maximum temperature soaring to 26.0 degrees Celsius. This broke the previous record of 25.4 degrees Celsius set back in 2010, highlighting the fluctuating temperature patterns in the state. The weather is expected to clear up across Himachal Pradesh from December 22 onwards.
