Himachal Pradesh weather update: Snow eludes hill stations despite 2-day forecast, prolonged dry spell has residents worried

The Newz Radar

SHIMLA: Despite a two-day forecast by the Meteorological Centre, Shimla, snow and rain eluded various parts of Himachal Pradesh even as it drizzled for a few minutes in certain parts while snowflakes were experienced for a very brief period in famous tourist destination Kufri.

As the wait for rain and snowfall continues, residents across the state find themselves in the grip of a relentless cold wave. Despite occasional light drizzles and scattered snow in certain regions, the overall weather pattern remains dry, increasing the worries of apple orchardists, farmers and those in the tourism industry. The night temperatures in the state are persistently below normal, with the mercury dropping below zero at six different locations.

Bhuntar in Kullu experienced a minimum of -0.1 degrees Celsius, Kalpa at -1.8 degrees, Manali -0.8 degrees, Narkanda -0.9 degrees, Samdho at a chilling -6.4 degrees and Kukumseri at an astounding -9.4 degrees Celsius. The mercury stood at 0.3 degrees in Sundernagar, 0.2 degrees in Mandi and 0.8 degrees in Kufri.

Simultaneously, the maximum temperatures across the state have registered a decline in the past 24 hours. Notable drops were recorded in Shimla at 12.6 degrees, Sundernagar at 18 degrees, Bhuntar at 19 degrees, Kalpa 10.5 degrees, Dharamshala 19 degrees, Una at 13.2 degrees, Dalhousie 8.4 degrees, Reckongpeo 12.7 degrees and Samdho 9.9 degrees Celsius.
According to the Meteorological Department, the current weather conditions suggest no immediate relief from the cold wave, and the forecast indicates clear skies persisting for the next week. With no signs of rain or snowfall, people are worried as there is a threat of water sources drying up.