Snow likely in higher reaches as western disturbance arrives
Pallavi Sharma
DHARAMSHALA: After an unusually long dry spell stretching over two months, weather conditions in Himachal Pradesh are set to change just ahead of the New Year, raising hopes of snowfall in the higher reaches. The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has forecast the arrival of a fresh western disturbance from December 30, which could finally break the long dry spell across the mountains.
On Friday, there were dark clouds hovering over Shimla and a chilly wind was blowing but on Saturday, it was sunny and bright again.
According to the latest forecast, high-altitude areas of Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu districts are likely to witness snowfall over the next three days. The expected weather activity has drawn the attention of residents, the administration and stakeholders in the tourism industry, all of whom have been waiting for winter to show its true colours.
Meteorologists say the western disturbance entering the region on December 30 will first impact higher elevations. On that day, isolated places in mid-hill areas may receive light rain or snowfall, while the effect will intensify on December 31 and January 1.
Light rain likely at isolated places in Kangra, Mandi, Shimla districts
During this period, several high-altitude locations in Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu are likely to see light to moderate snowfall. There is also a possibility of light rain at isolated places in Kangra, Mandi and Shimla districts.
In Kullu and Kinnaur, snowfall is expected mainly in higher reaches, while lower and plain districts such as Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Sirmaur are likely to remain cloudy with minimal chances of rain.
If the forecast holds, tourists celebrating New Year in the hills may be greeted with snow-covered landscapes, a scenario eagerly awaited by the hospitality sector after a dry start to the winter season.
Temperature likely to dip across the state
With snowfall expected over consecutive days, both maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to fall by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius across the state. Weather officials said temperatures will largely remain unchanged till December 29, with daytime temperatures staying slightly above normal in several areas due to clear skies and sunshine.
However, once snowfall begins in the upper regions, a sharp drop in temperatures is expected there, with a cascading cooling effect likely to be felt even in the lower districts.
Fog alert issued for several districts
While snow is awaited in the mountains, dense fog continues to trouble several lower districts. The Meteorological Centre has issued an orange alert for dense fog in Bilaspur at one or two places till December 29, followed by a yellow alert on December 30. Yellow alerts for fog have also been issued for Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Solan and Sirmaur till December 30.
A senior scientist at the Meteorological Centre in Shimla said foggy conditions were already observed in Bilaspur, Sundernagar and parts of Mandi, while similar conditions are likely in Kangra’s Jawali, Fatehpur and Indora areas, as well as Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur.
