The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: Call it global warming or freak weather, various places in Himachal Pradesh have been experiencing an unusual rise in temperatures, in what is a deviation from the typical winter climate. More so, there is no immediate relief in sight.
Known for its chilly winters, Himachal Pradesh is currently witnessing an unexpected surge in mercury levels, leaving residents and tourists puzzled alike.
The hill station of Shimla, often referred to as the Queen of Hills, is grappling with an unusual high of 18 degrees Celsius, a significant departure from the customary winter chill. Similarly, in Kalpa, the temperature has surpassed 16 degrees Celsius. At both these stations, the normal temperature would be hovering around 10 degrees Celsius over even lower in this part of the year.
The Meteorological Centre, Shimla, while ruling out the possibility of rain and snowfall over the next four days, has raised concerns about adverse weather conditions looming over the state. It, however, said a fresh western disturbance was expected to get active over Himachal Pradesh from December 29 and may lead to snow and rain in the middle and higher reaches of the state from December 30 to January 1.
Both maximum and minimum temperatures across the state are registering above-normal figures. In Shimla, the maximum temperature has soared by 1.3 degrees in the last 24 hours, reaching 18 degrees Celsius, which is 5.2 degrees Celsius higher than the seasonal average.
Dalhousie recorded a temperature of 17.4 degrees, surpassing the normal by 4 degrees. Sundernagar experienced a mercury rise to 23.6 degrees, marking a deviation of 4.6 degrees from the usual. Notably, the tribal area of Kalpa recorded a temperature of 16.1 degrees, which is 9 degrees above normal. Dharamshala and Kangra reported temperatures of 23 and 24.4 degrees, respectively, both exceeding the typical range.
The minimum temperatures are on the rise too. In Shimla, the minimum temperature stood at 8.8 degrees, surpassing the normal by 4.6 degrees. Kalpa recorded a minimum temperature of 2.8 degrees, exceeding the seasonal average by 5.2 degrees Celsius. Dharamshala, with a minimum temperature of 9.2 degrees, marked a 2.6-degree departure from the usual.
