The cold wave sweeping the hills of Himachal Pradesh intensified today as high altitude tribal areas and mountain ranges received mild snowfall and isolated places in mid and lower hills witnessed mild rainfall, causing sharp fall in mercury.
High altitude areas in tribal Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts and parts of Pangi in Cham district received mild snowfall accompanied by fierce icy winds, causing sharp fall in mercury.
The sky remained heavily overcast over the region and mild rains and drizzle deprived people of sunshine and the day temperature dropped further.
Kalpa and Keylong in tribal Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts recorded minimum temperatures at minus 0.8 degree and 2.4 degrees Celsius while Sundernagar, Una and Manali shivered at 2.7, 3.4 and 3.5 degrees respectively, followed by Mandi 3.8, Bhuntar 4.8, Solan 6.0, Shimla 6.3, Palampur 7.5, Dharamsala 8.0, and Nahan 10.5 degrees Celsius.
State capital Shimla was lashed by strong icy winds accompanied by intermittent showers, forcing people to stay indoors.
The maximum day temperature which dropped by four to eight degrees yesterday, dipped further today.
Kalpa and Manali recorded maximum temperature at 11 and 12 degrees Celsius while Shimla recorded a high of 13 degrees, followed by Sundernagar 14.7, Dharamsala 15.2, Bhuntar 17.2, Solan 17.5, Nahan 19.9, and Una 20.1 degrees Celsius.
The local MeT office has predicted more rains, snow and thundershowers tomorrow and dry weather over the next five days.
