Cold wave conditions aggravated in Himachal Pradesh today with the mercury plummeting by four to six degrees across the state and Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district experiencing the coldest night of the season.
The mercury plunged to minus 11.5 degrees Celsius in Keylong.
High altitude tribal areas reeled under arctic conditions with the mercury staying 12 to 20 degrees below the freezing point while mid and lower hills shivered under sub-zero temperature.
Manali and Kalpa recorded a low of minus 4.0 and minus 3.6 degrees Celsius.
Una in Shivalik foothills adjoining Punjab recorded a low of minus 2.5, followed by Bhuntar minus 1.0, Solan and Sundernagar minus 0.5 degree, Palampur 0.5 degree, Dharamsala 5.8 degree and Nahan 6.0 degrees Celsius. State capital Shimla recorded a minimum of 1.7 degrees Celsius.
However, maximum day temperatures remained steady with Una recording a high of 22.4 degrees C, followed by Sundernagar 17.3, Bhuntar 17.0, Nahan and Solan 16.3, Dharamsala 13.8, Shimla 11.6 and Kalpa 8.8 degrees C.
Thick ground frost occurred in mid and higher hills making driving risky on slippery roads and resulting in freezing and bursting of water pipes while dense fog disrupted normal life in lower hills during the morning hours, which dissipated as the day advanced.
The extreme low temperature is considered beneficial for apple crop as it would help in ensuring requisite chilling hours for bumper apple crop.
The local MeT office has predicted rains or snow at isolated places in mid and higher hills over next two days and dry weather in the region from December 24.
