Shimla, Apr 17
Himachal Pradesh is experiencing a mixed weather bag, these days. While scattered showers graced some parts, most of the state, including the foothills, saw dry conditions and a rise in heatwave intensity.
Light rains
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported rainfall in several tourist destinations and other areas. Narkanda received 4.5 mm, Mandi 3.8 mm, Kalpa 3.7 mm, Sangla 3.4 mm, Keylong (Lahaul Spiti) and Kufri witnessed 3 mm each, and Manali saw 5 mm.
Temperatures
Keylong recorded a chilly 0.3 degrees Celsius, followed by Kalpa at 3.5 degrees Celsius. Tourist hotspots like Manali, Narkanda, and Kufri hovered around 5-8 degrees Celsius. The foothills, including Shimla, Mandi, Solan, and Una, experienced warmer temperatures ranging from 10.4 to 18.5 degrees Celsius.
Heatwave in foothills
With clear skies prevailing, scorching heatwaves gripped parts of the Una, Hamirpur, and Kangra districts in the foothills.
Challenges in higher reaches
Despite the recent snowfall, over 107 roads remain blocked due to snow accumulation, particularly in Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, and Kinnaur districts. Frequent avalanches continue to pose a threat in these areas.
Chilly Nights in Shimla, Kullu, and Chamba
The past week’s rainfall brought cooler days and even colder nights to Shimla, Kullu, and Chamba districts.
Forecast
A Western Disturbance currently persists over Jammu and Kashmir. A fresh disturbance is expected to impact northwest India starting April 18th, 2024.
Forecast includes
– Widespread rain is likely across the state on April 19th.
– Scattered showers are predicted for April 20th.
– Light to moderate rain is possible in some areas on April 18th and 22nd.
Alerts
The IMD issued an orange alert for ten districts, warning of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hail, and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) at isolated places on April 18th and 19th. A yellow alert for thunderstorms and lightning is in effect for April 20th and 22nd.
The forecast thunderstorms could disrupt essential services like electricity, communication, and related infrastructure.
Farmers are advised to use hail nets or caps to protect their fruit orchards and provide mechanical support to horticultural crops and vegetables.
The IMD urges local authorities and concerned departments to follow their advisories and issue necessary guidelines to ensure public safety.
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