Piercing cold wave conditions prevailed in the Himachal Pradesh even as the region had a clear and sunny day after three consecutive days of snowfall, rains and thunderstorms.
The minimum temperatures dropped by three to four degrees to settle at minus 6.9 degree and minus 5.0 degree at Keylong and Kalpa in the twin tribal districts of Lahaul and Spiti.
Meanwhile, the key tourist resort of Manali shivered under biting cold wave conditions with a low of minus 1.0 degree Celsius, followed by Nahan 6.1 degree, Shimla 2.2 degree, Bhuntar 3.7 degree, Solan 4.5 degree, Sundernagar 6.1 degree, Dharamsala 6.6 degree and Una 7.4 degree C respectively.
Kalpa recorded 10 cm of fresh snowfall while Manali and Keylong experienced 5 cm of fresh snow creating severe cold wave conditions in adjoining valleys.
The sprawling Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra, Churdhar ranges in Sirmaur and mighty Rohtang pass recorded 25 cm to 100 cm of fresh snow while Kufri, Narkanda and other higher reaches had mild snow.
Dharamshala was wettest in the region with 37 mm of rains while Gaggal (Kangra) and Dharampur recorded 31 mm and 26 mm of rainfall, followed by Rohru and Bangana 24 mm, Una 23 mm, Saluni 22 mm, Kotkhai 21 mm, Seobagh 20 mm, Shimla and Kasauli 18 mm, Solan and Hamirpur 17 mm and Jubbarhatti (Airport) 13 mm.
The high altitude tribal areas reeled under arctic conditions with mercury staying between minus 12 and minus 26 degree Celsius and all natural sources of water like lakes, springs, rivulets and tributaries of snowfed rivers were frozen for past two months.
The pale sun failed to warm up the region as icy winds continued to sweep the mid and higher hills. However, the day temperatures rose by one to three degrees in lower hills but there was no respite from cold in higher altitudes.
The local MeT office has predicted dry weather in lower and mid hills and rains or snow at isolated places in tribal areas during the next 48 hours.
