Himachal Pradesh : Sees Fresh Snowfall in High Altitudes, Temperatures Climb Slightly
Himachal Pradesh : experienced a mixed spell of winter weather over the past day, with snowfall returning to higher elevations and scattered rain affecting a few lower districts. At the same time, overnight temperatures showed a noticeable rise at several monitoring stations, according to the India Meteorological Department’s regional office in Shimla.
Snowfall Concentrated in Tribal and High-Altitude Areas
The most significant snowfall was reported from Lahaul-Spiti and surrounding tribal regions, where fresh snow accumulated across multiple locations. Gondla recorded the highest snowfall at 22 centimetres, followed closely by Kukumseri with 21.3 centimetres. Kothi and Koksar also saw substantial accumulation, receiving 20 centimetres and 19 centimetres, respectively. Keylong registered 12.5 centimetres of snow, while lighter snowfall was observed in Kalpa and Sangla, which recorded 5.5 centimetres and 1.8 centimetres.
Rainfall Recorded in Select Lower Districts
While the upper reaches remained under snow, parts of Chamba and Kullu districts experienced light to moderate rainfall. Saloni in Chamba received 9.3 millimetres of rain, making it one of the wetter locations during the period. Manali recorded 6 millimetres, contributing to damp conditions in the valley. Elsewhere, precipitation remained limited and unevenly distributed.
Thunderstorms, Fog, and Strong Winds Reported
Weather conditions varied sharply across the state. Thunderstorm activity was observed in Shimla, while shallow fog reduced visibility in Kalpa to nearly 500 metres during early hours. Gusty winds were also reported from higher hill stations such as Kufri and Narkanda, where wind speeds reached up to 52 kilometres per hour. These conditions caused brief disruptions but did not lead to any major incidents.
Minimum Temperatures Rise Above Seasonal Norms
Despite the wintry weather, minimum temperatures increased at many locations. The weather department noted that several stations recorded night temperatures between 2 and 5 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average. Maximum temperatures, however, remained largely unchanged and continued to stay below normal in multiple areas, indicating persistent cold daytime conditions in parts of the state.
Temperature Extremes Across the State
Among the reported stations, Tabo in Lahaul-Spiti registered the lowest minimum temperature, dipping to minus 8.9 degrees Celsius. In contrast, Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district recorded the highest daytime temperature, reaching 23 degrees Celsius. These figures highlight the wide temperature variation between the snowbound high-altitude regions and the comparatively warmer foothills.
Short-Term Weather Outlook for January 27
The meteorological office has forecast isolated spells of rain and snowfall across Himachal Pradesh on January 27. There is also a possibility of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds ranging between 40 and 50 kilometres per hour, with gusts potentially touching 60 kilometres per hour at a few isolated locations. Residents and travelers in vulnerable areas have been advised to remain cautious.
Cold Conditions Likely to Persist in Coming Days
Cold-day conditions are expected to continue in parts of the lower and mid-hill regions over the next few days. Additionally, isolated locations may experience cold wave conditions along with dense fog, particularly during morning and late-night hours. These conditions could affect visibility and daily routines in some areas.
Fresh Western Disturbance on the Horizon
Looking ahead, the weather department has indicated that a new western disturbance is likely to influence northwest India from the night of January 30. This system is expected to bring another round of rain and snowfall to Himachal Pradesh, potentially intensifying winter conditions in the region once again.