Intense cold wave in Himachal

The intense cold wave conditions sweeping most parts of Himachal Pradesh continued unabated as mercury dropped marginally and high altitude tribal areas froze.
The minimum temperatures stayed between minus 8.0 degrees and minus 15.0 degrees Celsius in the high altitude tribal areas, resulting in freezing of all natural sources of water like lakes, springs and rivulets.
The minimum temperature dropped to minus 5.6 degrees at Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district while Kalpa in adjoining Kinnaur district recorded a low of minus 2.6 degrees, followed
By Manali minus 0.8 degrees, Bhuntar 1.0 degrees, Sundernagar 2.3 degrees, Solan 3.0 degrees, Shimla 4.7 degrees, Palampur 5.9 degrees, Una 6.8 degrees, Dharamsala 9.0 degrees and Nahan 9.9 degrees Celsius.

The maximum day temperatures also dropped by few notches and Una in Shivalik foothills recorded a low of 21.5 degrees, followed by Nahan 20.8 degrees, Sundernagar 18.4 degrees, Solan 18.0 degrees, Bhuntar 16.7 degrees, Dharamshala 15.8 degrees, Shimla 13.0 degrees, Manali 12.6 degrees, Kalpa 10.4 degrees.
Water pipes froze and burst at many places in higher hills while thick fog engulfed the towns along the river banks in the morning hours, disrupting vehicular traffic.
The local MeT office has predicted snow or rains in mid and higher hills over next six days and rains and thundershowers in lower hills.