State turns frosty: Tabo at –7°C; Shimla registers first icing signs
Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source: Internet
Shimla, Nov 25,
Himachal Pradesh’s high-altitude and tribal belts have slipped into an intense cold wave, with temperatures dipping sharply across the region. Tabo in the Spiti Valley emerged as the coldest location in the state on Tuesday, recording an icy –7°C, signalling the arrival of peak winter conditions in the trans-Himalayan zone.
The worsening chill has already triggered travel restrictions. District administrations in Lahaul–Spiti and Kullu shut key high-altitude roads to vehicular movement from November 20, citing rapidly dropping temperatures and the risk of black ice. Local residents report that night-time freezing has increased so sharply that even minor stretches become slippery within hours.
Deep freeze across the tribal belt
Kukumseri followed closely behind with a minimum of –4.3°C, marking another bitterly cold morning for the Lahaul valley. Reckong Peo in Kinnaur settled at 1.7°C, while Manali recorded a low of 1.1°C as the popular tourist towns also began to feel the advancing winter.
Mid-hill regions, though comparatively warmer, are now steadily cooling. Shimla—the state capital—dipped to 6.2°C, and residents woke up to the season’s early signs of icing. Even thin layers of frost were observed on car windshields in north facing areas of the city, indicating that sub-zero surface temperatures are beginning to set in during the night. Reportedly even the Simla Ice skating rink has started the process of freezing ice naturally, as skating may start by first week of December.
Dharamshala recorded 7.2°C, Solan 3.5°C, and Jubberhatti airport also logged 7.2°C. In the lower belt, Una stood at 7.0°C, Nahan at 7.6°C, Bilaspur at 8.2°C, and Hamirpur at 5.6°C—all pointing towards a state-wide temperature slide.
Fog disrupts visibility in lower hills
Adding to travel discomfort, dense fog continued to engulf Bilaspur with visibility dropping to nearly 100 meters. Mandi reported moderate fog, while Sundernagar remained under shallow fog conditions during the early hours, affecting road safety along key corridors.
No relief in sight this week
The weather department has predicted a completely dry spell across Himachal till December 1. With no western disturbance or precipitation in the forecast, the current cold wave is expected to persist—and likely intensify—as clear skies aid night-time radiative cooling.
As the hills inch deeper into early winter, residents across Shimla, Kinnaur, Lahaul–Spiti and the mid-hills are bracing for an extended cold phase, even before the traditional winter systems begin to set in.
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