Farmers & Hospitality industry waiting inclement weather keenly, weathermen tight lipped

The delayed sawing of Rabi crops in the mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh and the hospitality industry are closely monitoring any oncoming inclement weather conditions. However, weathermen remain tight-lipped due to unusual trends, such as soaring abnormal day temperatures and mostly clear weather.

Farmers eagerly await a light spell of rain and snow to enhance wet conditions in their fields for sustaining wheat, barley, mustard crops, and impatient apple growers wish to eliminate dust and dry soil in orchards.

A Western disturbance likely to advance in the next two days is a glimmer of hope, with most weathermen predicting a 60 percent chance of rain in areas like Dharmshala and its high reaches. The only hope for the state lies in a sudden increase in day temperatures and mainly fogless conditions, signaling the advancement of the Western disturbance.

Over the last 15 years, changes in weather conditions in the hills at year-end and in January serve as a warning signal for the hospitality industry in the state. While weather is pleasant in the foothills and mid-hills for tourists, high reaches like Lahaul Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu, and Chamba have extremely slippery roads, posing dangers. Five tourists who ignored local advice in Kaza (Losar) three days ago were rescued in a life-threatening operation.

Tourist places like Manali, Shimla, Dharmshala, Dalhousie, Kasauli, and Kufri are mainly sunny, providing an opportunity to enjoy beautiful sunshine. Although there are minimal hopes for snowfall in a couple of hill stations, it is likely to be confined to high reaches inaccessible by roads and already closed by the district administration.

Water bodies in these areas are frozen, and thick sheets of ice are extremely slippery, potentially leading to untoward mishaps. District administrations in Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur have already issued warnings, advising people to avoid inaccessible areas as climbing in high reaches is very risky.

Weathermen predict that Western disturbances may bring light rain and snowfall in isolated places in Chamba, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, and the high reaches of Shimla district on December 22 and 23. However, the rest of the state is expected to remain mainly dry from December 24 to December 31.