Light cloud cover lifts mercury; Shimla’s 101-year-old Ice rink calls off session
Old photo. Used for indicative purpose only
Shimla, Dec 8,
A thin sheet of clouds drifting over Himachal Pradesh overnight pushed up night temperatures on Monday, offering slight relief from the biting cold in several mid and lower hills but causing concern for winter sports enthusiasts in the capital. The rise in mercury forced the iconic natural ice-skating rink in Shimla to call off its early-morning skating session, as the surface failed to develop adequate skateable ice.
According to the Meteorological Centre, Shimla, most weather stations recorded minimum temperatures 2–4°C above normal. The state capital logged a minimum of 9.5°C, nearly 3.2°C above the seasonal average, limiting the formation of natural ice on the famed 104-year-old rink. Officials of the Shimla Ice Skating Club said the unexpected warmth and persistent cloud cover prevented the rink from freezing overnight, prompting a last-minute cancellation of the session.
Elsewhere in the state, Sundernagar recorded 5.7°C, Bhuntar 6.5°C, Kalpa 2.6°C and Mandi 7.1°C, all reflecting warmer-than-usual conditions. Manali saw one of the sharpest increases, with its minimum rising by 3°C to settle at 6.7°C—almost 6°C above normal.
Despite the overall warming trend, the higher reaches continued to shiver. Kukumseri in Lahaul remained the coldest spot at –6.2°C, followed by Tabo at –1.8°C. The Met bulletin noted dry weather across the state, with no precipitation reported during the past 24 hours.
Day temperatures also stayed on the higher side on Sunday. Bajaura topped the charts at 25.3°C, emerging as the warmest location in the state.
The Met office has maintained a forecast of dry weather through the week. Dense fog may appear at isolated locations during late-night and early-morning hours, especially in valley regions and the foothills. Commuters have been advised to remain cautious in low visibility.
Meanwhile, skating enthusiasts in Shimla are hoping for clearer skies and a dip in mercury in the coming days to revive the city’s cherished winter tradition on the historic natural rink.
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