Shimla, Dec 17
Extreme coldwave is sweeping across the hill state dipping down the Mercury level several degrees below freezing point in minus. There are reports of pipes distributing water supply in many places getting frozen. Formation of fog in the mid and foot hills has disrupted traffic and thick sheet of frost destroying the ripen crops in the state.
Minimum temperature dipped by one to two degrees during the last 24 hrs as it was three to four degrees below the normal. The state was facing the extreme cold wave as night temperature plunged several degrees below freezing point in the sub zero and minus. Keylong headquarter of Lahaul Spiti was recorded minus eight degrees last night and Maximum at minus four degrees. Night temperature of Keylong recorded below, one degree in night and below seven degrees in the day.
Temperatures recorded
Minimum temperature of Kalpa in Kinnuar was minus 4.5 degrees, three degree down, Solan minus 1.6 degrees and five degree down the normal, Manali minus 1.2 degrees and one degree below the normal, Seobagh in Kullu minus 1.8 degrees, Palampur zero degrees, Kangra and Sundernagar in Mandi minus 0.6 degrees and four degree down.
Bhuntar in Kullu minus 0.4 degrees, Dalhousie 0.4 degrees, Mandi and Chamba one degrees, Dharmshala 1.2 degrees Kufri 1.4 degrees, Una 1.5 degrees, Shimla 2.7 degrees, Nahan 2.5 degrees, Hamirpur 2.7 degrees, Bilaspur three degrees and Jubberhati in Shimla 3.6 degrees.
On Thursday Maximum temperature was three degree below normal. Met Office forecast that during the next two week weather would be mainly dry from Dec 25 to  Dec 31 thus turning this Christmas to remain mainly dry in the hill state. They further forecast that due to activation of a western disturbances from around Jan 1 to Jan 7 rain and snowfall probably may occur around new year.
Dense fog in mid & foot hillsÂ
The impact of coldwave likely to be high in next 24 hrs as it would create more Dense fog and cold wave at isolated places in foot hill of Una, Bilaspur, Hamipur, Kangra, Solan and Sirmaur which would reduce the visibility in less than 500 meters and disruption and slow movements of Traffic and cause Crop Destruction due to frost.
Water pipe freezing incidents recorded
Water pipes logged in many places on Thursday morning due to frozen water pipes in Shimla, Solan, Kullu, Kinnuar, Mandi and Lahaul Spiti a thick sleet of frost caused havoc in many places of state disrupting the movement of traffic in some shadow. The Met Office forecast mainly dry weather in the state and further decreasing of night temperature.
