Himachal Pradesh Sees Relief as Snowfall and Rain Bring Down Temperatures
In a welcome respite from the hot weather, rain in various parts of the low and mid hills, combined with snowfall in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh, pushed temperatures down across most of the state on Thursday. This weather event provided significant relief to residents and farmers alike, following a period of below-normal rainfall.
Snowfall and Road Closures in High-Altitude Areas
Snowfall was recorded for the second consecutive day in Lahaul Spiti and high-altitude regions of Kullu, Kinnaur, and Chamba districts. Light snowfall affected areas such as Keylong, Atal Tunnel, Shinkula, and Rohtang Pass. As a result, the local administration closed the Darcha-Shinkula road due to hazardous conditions. Other roads that remained blocked included Rohtang Pass to Atal Tunnel, Darcha to Sarchu, Gramphu to Batal, and Lossar to Batal, disrupting travel in these remote regions.
Temperature Drops Across the State
Rain also fell in various parts of the state, including Lahaul Spiti, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba, Kangra, and Dharamshala, leading to a notable decrease in maximum temperatures. According to the meteorological centre in Shimla, temperatures dropped by 2 to 7 degrees Celsius at several weather stations due to the precipitation from Wednesday. Specific temperature drops included:
- Manali: Maximum temperature of 12.6°C, 3.9 degrees below normal.
- Bhuntar: Maximum temperature of 19.2°C, 3.1 degrees below normal.
- Mandi: Maximum temperature of 25.8°C, 2.4 degrees below normal.
- Kalpa: Maximum temperature of 13.4°C, a sharp drop of 7.1 degrees in 24 hours.
- Dharamshala: Maximum temperature of 27°C, down by two degrees.
- Kufri: Maximum temperature of 16.9°C, also down by two degrees.
Mercury levels fell below the 30-degree mark at all weather stations except Una, which recorded the highest maximum temperature of 32.6°C. Solan saw a maximum temperature of 29.5°C, a drop of 0.5 degrees, while Kangra recorded 28°C, also down by 0.5 degrees.
Farmers Welcome Much-Needed Rain
Farmers and apple growers in the region expressed relief as the rain showered most parts of Kullu district. Gurmohinder Kotia, a prominent apple grower from Seobagh in Kullu district, highlighted the importance of this precipitation. He stated that the dry spell had jeopardized several crops, and this rain was crucial for vegetable crops like garlic, peas, and cauliflower. Kotia added that the rain also benefited apple and plum orchards, and a few more similar spells could ensure a good crop this year. This comes after the state experienced below-normal rainfall in the previous month and into this month.
Weather Forecast for the Coming Days
Meanwhile, the meteorological department has predicted dry weather on March 13 and 14, followed by light rain and snow on March 15 and 16 in isolated parts of the state. This forecast suggests that the relief may be temporary, but it offers hope for continued precipitation to support agricultural activities.
