Lower areas of Himachal Pradesh today reeled under sweltering heat as maximum temperatures stayed six to eight degrees Celsius above normal.
With weather remaining dry in the region, the local MeT department has forecast continuation of heat wave in lower parts of Una, Hamirpur and Bilaspur districts during next 24 hours.
Una with maximum temperature at 43.6 deg C was hottest in the region while Sundernagar recorded a high of 39.5 deg, followed by Bhunter 37.4 deg, Nahan 35.8 deg, Dharamshala and Solan 35.6 deg, five to seven degree above normal.
State capital Shimla recorded minimum and maximum temperatures at 21.8 degree and 28.5 deg , 7.5 degrees above normal.
The minimum temperature dropped marginally by one degree in several parts of the state and Una recorded a low of 23.0 deg, followed by Nahan 22.8 deg, Dharamsala 22.4 deg, Sundernagar 21.0 deg, Solan 19.5 deg, Bhuntar 17.5 deg and Manali 14.4 degree C.
The MeT office has predicted rains or thunderstorms in higher hill and tribal areas during next forty-eight hours.
