The severe cold condition in most part of Himachal Pradesh intensified today freezing natural sources of water and affecting hydro-power generation even as fresh snowfall brought the mercury below the zero-level at several places in the Valley and Ladakh region.
In the national capital, it was a pleasant weather as sun shone bright through the day and the minimum temperature settled at 9.4 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year.
The maximum temperature was recorded at 22.5 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season's average. Humidity in air oscillated between 41 and 97 per cent. The MeT office has predicted a clear sky for tomorrow with possibility of mist and shallow fog in the morning.
The severe cold wave conditions sweeping most parts of Himachal Pradesh intensified as minimum temperatures dropped further and all natural sources of water in high altitude areasfrozen, reducing discharge into snow-fed Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers, affecting hydro-power generation.
The high altitude areas had another spell of light snowfall, intensifying the cold wave conditions in the valley.
The tribal areas reeld under biting cold wave conditions with mercury staying 12 to 18 degree below freezing point.
Keylong recorded 3 cm of fresh snow. Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts recorded a low of minus 3.7 and minus 0.8 degrees Celsius respectively.
A medium avalanche threat has been issued for tribal areas and higher hills and the people have been advised not to venture out.
In Jammu and Kashmir, Pahalgam and a few other places in the higher reaches received fresh snowfall and the night temperature across the Valley and Ladakh region settled below the freezing point last night.
Pahalgam recorded fresh snowfall of 1 centimetre in the last 24 hours, while there were reports of snow in a few other places in the higher reaches of Kashmir.
The resort in south Kashmir, which serves as a base for the Amarnath Yatra, registered the minimum temperature of minus 5.4 degrees Celsius, over five notches down from minus 0.2 degrees Celsius yesterday.
Mercury today dropped sharply in Punjab and Haryana with Karnal being the coldest place in the two states where minimum temperatures have been fluctuating this month.
Haryana's Karnal reeled under biting cold conditions at a minimum of 4.4 degrees Celsius, down five notches against normal. Chandigarh recorded its low at 7.6 degrees Celsius.
The MeT official said fog reduced visibility at Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Karnal in the morning.
Weather remained pleasant in Bihar though there was marginal drop in minimum temperature which was compensated by bright sunshine.
The minimum temperature fell to 10.1 degrees Celsius in Patna compared to 10.6 degrees Celsius yesterday. The maximum temperature, however, climbed 1 notch to 27.4 degrees Celsius.
The Met office forecast nearly identical weather tomorrow with the minimum temperature at 10 degrees Celsius.
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