Wednesday (June 12, 2024) brought scorching temperatures to Himachal Pradesh as a heatwave swept several parts, with the mercury soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in 10 areas for the first time this season. Una, Kangra, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Mandi, Sirmaur and Solan were among the districts gripped by the blistering heat.
Una, in particular, experienced its highest temperature in 17 years, with Kangra and Shimla following suit after seven and five years. The Meteorological Centre, Shimla, has issued a yellow alert, indicating that the heatwave is expected to persist until June 16.
While the plains bore the brunt of the heat, even the hilly regions experienced sweltering conditions, making life uncomfortable for residents. Nights offered little respite even though the minimum temperatures continue to rise.
However, a glimmer of relief may be on the horizon as a western disturbance is set to become active, potentially bringing rain to some areas on Thursday and Friday. Nevertheless, adverse weather conditions are forecasted to persist in certain parts of the state on June 18 and 19.
Shimla, the state capital, recorded a maximum temperature of 30.5 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, reminiscent of the levels seen in June 2019. In Una, the mercury soared to 43.2 degrees Celsius, marking a significant increase from the 42.1 degrees recorded in 2007 after a 17-year gap. Similarly, Kangra witnessed a temperature rise to 41.3 degrees Celsius from 42 degrees recorded in 2017. Notably, all areas of the state experienced a notable uptick in temperatures on Wednesday.
