TNR Desk
DHARAMSHALA: As the winter chill tightens its grip on Himachal Pradesh, the state is gearing up for what could be a memorable White Christmas this year. Heavy snowfall has blanketed higher areas while many districts have witnessed mercury plummeting into the negative territory.
According to the forecast by the Meteorological Centre, Shimla, a fresh western disturbance is set to be active in the state from December 22 onwards. This phenomenon is likely to bring snowfall to the higher reaches of the state and rainfall in the lower regions, raising the possibility of a white Christmas in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in elevated areas such as Shimla.
The influence of the western disturbance is anticipated to persist until December 26. Despite a brief respite from the cold on Monday due to sunshine, minimum temperatures saw a decline of 1 to 2 degrees Celsius.
In the upper regions of the state, minimum temperatures have already dipped below freezing, and areas like Bhuntar and Sundernagar are on the verge of reaching the freezing point. As the days progress, the temperature is expected to drop further, intensifying the cold spell. The increasing severity of the cold is attributed to the impending western disturbance, with a notable rise of up to 2 degrees Celsius recorded in maximum temperatures.
On Tuesday, the Meteorological Department has predicted clear skies in Himachal, although there is a slight possibility of light cloud cover in certain areas. Residents and visitors have been advised to prepare for the colder days ahead.
While Christmas likely to greet tourists in Himachal as western disturbance to get active from December 22
