Another wet spell likely from today

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 18

Another wet spell, with widespread rain and snow, has been predicted in the state from Saturday, even as biting cold wave conditions continue to sweep the region. 

The local MeT office has warned of heavy rain or snow at isolated places on January 21 and 22 as a fresh western disturbance will affect northwest India from Friday onwards. 

Under the influence, an induced cyclonic circulation would form over southwest Rajasthan on January 20 and move over Punjab and Haryana by January 22 and in addition, there would be high moisture feeding from Arabian Sea over northwest India, specifically over western Himalayan region from January 20 to 24, the MeT office said.

As a result, light rain or snowfall would occur at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and distribution and intensity of the rain and snowfall will increase. As a consequence, fairly widespread to widespread rain and snowfall would occur in the state during this period. 

Meanwhile, most parts of the state continued to reel under fierce cold wave as mercury hovered around freezing point. Keylong and Kalpa in tribal areas and Manali recorded a low of minus 7°C, minus 3.6°C and minus 1.2°C. 

Bhuntar, Solan and Sundernagar shivered at 0.8°C, 0.9°C and 1.1°C while Kufri recorded minimum temperature at 2°C, followed by Una and Bilaspur 2.2°C, Palampur 3°C and Dharamsala and Shimla at 4.2°C.

Thick ground frost occurred in mid and higher hills, resulting in freezing and bursting of water pipes while slippery roads made driving hazardous in the morning hours.

Thick fog engulfed the towns along river banks, affecting vehicular traffic.

The region had a clear and sunny day in the morning but dark clouds engulfed the sky in the evening, causing sharp fall in day temperatures.