The town of Nahan in Himachal Pradesh witnessed an unprecedented heatwave on Monday as the temperature soared to 40 degrees Celsius, marking the highest recorded temperature in 29 years. The last time Nahan experienced such extreme heat was in 1995 when the mercury touched 40.8 degrees Celsius.
Statewide heatwave
Across various districts of Himachal Pradesh, including Sirmaur, Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Shimla, Solan, Kangra and Kullu, residents endured scorching temperatures. Sundernagar reported a sweltering 41.2 degrees Celsius, down from the record of 41.6 degrees Celsius set in 2019. Ten areas recorded temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, exacerbating the heatwave gripping the region.
Meteorological outlook
According to the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, relief may be on the horizon with the expected arrival of a western disturbance from June 18 onwards. This weather system is anticipated to bring rain across Himachal Pradesh from June 19 to 23, potentially alleviating the intense heat.
Nighttime temp high too
The night temperatures have also been unusually high this season, with Paonta Sahib recording a minimum of 30 degrees Celsius on Sunday night, a first for the year. Places like Dharamshala, Nahan, and Solan have been experiencing heatwave conditions even during the nighttime due to the elevated minimum temperatures.
Rain, snow in some parts
In some relief from the scorching heat, Rohtang Pass saw light snowfall while Kullu received rain showers on Monday, bringing temperatures down by 5 to 7 degrees Celsius. Tourists in Kullu-Manali welcomed the unexpected rain showers, providing relief from the oppressive heat.
Rainfall was also reported in Atal Tunnel, Koksar, Sissu, Dharamshala, Palampur, Baijnath, Nagrota Bagwan, Khaira, Shahpur and Mandi. Shimla experienced cool winds in the evening, providing a temporary respite from the daytime heat.
