The tribal areas and other higher hills reeled under biting cold wave conditions as mercury stayed between minus 15 and minus 22 degree in higher hills and Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts recorded a low of minus 9.1 degree and minus 5 degree while key tourist resort of Manali shivered at minus 6.2 degree Celsius.
The weather remained mostly dry but Keylong and Kalpa received 4 cm of snow and the local MeT office has predicted rains, thunderstorm or snow in the region from January 21 to January 26 as a fresh Western Disturbance very likely to affect western Himalayan region from January 21 onwards.
Thick ground frost occurred at various places hampering vehicular traffic in the morning hours and water pipes froze at various places.
However, the day temperatures improved and Una was hottest with maximum temperature at 20.6 degree while Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded a high of 19.4 degree and 18.4 degree, followed by Solan 17.5 degree, Nahan 16.4 degree, Dharamsala 13. 6 degree, Shimla 13.2 degree, Manali 8 degree and Kalpa 4 degree Celsius.