Temperatures drop by five degrees in Himachal as pre-monsoon showers bring relief

Pre-monsoon showers and thunderstorms have brought significant relief to Himachal Pradesh, causing temperatures to drop by four to five degrees Celsius over the past 24 hours. This welcome change marks the end of a two-month-long dry spell in the region.

The Meteorological Office reported that Kahu in Hamirpur received 53.5 mm of rainfall, while Kufri, a popular tourist destination, recorded 43.4 mm. Other notable rainfall measurements include Kandaghat with 41.6 mm, Rajgarh at 37 mm, Dharmsala at 34 mm, Solan at 30.6 mm, and Kotkhai with 30.2 mm. Additional locations with significant rainfall include Mashobra (29 mm), Shimla (28.5 mm), Jogindarnagar (28 mm), Dalhousie (21 mm), Mehre (20 mm), Paonta (19.2 mm), Dharampur (18.6 mm), Narkanda (13 mm), Palampur (12.4 mm), Kasauli (12.2 mm), Naina Devi (10 mm), and Sundarnagar (10.1 mm).

A high-speed windstorm, with speeds between 40 to 50 km per hour, disrupted normal life, affecting power supply and vehicular traffic.

Agriculturists and apple growers are particularly pleased with the rainfall, which is expected to benefit the sowing of Kharif crops and offseason vegetables.

Despite the rainfall, Shimla continues to face a water crisis. The Shimla Municipal Corporation reported a reduction in water supply, from 33.75 million liters per day (MLD) yesterday to 30.85 MLD today. This decrease is attributed to increased silt levels due to heavy rains. However, the long-term effect may help recharge water resources in the state capital.

The minimum temperature in Shimla fell to 26.9 degrees Celsius, down 2.6 degrees from yesterday. Other temperatures recorded include Bhuntar airport (31.2 degrees), Jubberhatti (29.5 degrees), Kalpa (23 degrees), Dharamsala (32.5 degrees), Una (38.4 degrees, the highest in the state), Nahan (31.6 degrees), Keylong (18.9 degrees), Solan (31 degrees), Manali (25.2 degrees), Kangra (36.8 degrees), Mandi (36.2 degrees), Bilaspur (38 degrees), Hamirpur (36.9 degrees), Chamba (37.2 degrees), Kufri (20.8 degrees), Narkanda (21.5 degrees), and Kasauli (29 degrees).

The IMD forecasts more showers in the next 24 hours, with the monsoon expected to advance in the state between June 22 and 23. However, initial monsoon rains are predicted to be below normal with significant anomalies in rainfall departure.