Just when we thought winter was receding, Himachal Pradesh turned into a winter wonderland again. This time, it’s not all snow angels and snowpersons but weather warnings too. Orange Alert has been issued for eight districts in Himachal Pradesh citing hail, thunderstorms, lightning and snow.
What is it
Heavy rainfall has been predicted by Shimla meteorological centre in Shimla, Sirmaur, Mandi, Chamba and Kangra and Kullu district. Srinagar received its first snowfall of 2020 on Monday. The cold has trickled down. Higher peaks like Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Shimla, Kufri, Manali and Bharmaur have seen fresh snowfall and lower hills and plains witness heavy rainfall. The weather is likely to persist. Maximum temperatures across Himachal Pradesh are dropping.
Manmohan Singh, Director of Shimla Meteorological Centre was reported as saying, maximum temperature dipped 6-7 degrees below normal as a result of the rains. Keylong recorded the state’s lowest temperature on January 6 at minus 9 degree Celsius and Kangra the highest at 13.6 degrees Celsius. Major tourist destinations have left travellers freezing at sub zero temperatures. Manali, Dalhousie, Kufri, Keylong and Kalpa are all in for a cold spell. As Himachal Freezes At -14 Degrees These Hill Stations Covered In Snow Look So Dreamy!
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What’s more
Over 300 tourists and taxi vehicles were stranded in Solang Valley near Kullu Valley. The road between Kulang and Solang is covered in 10-25 cm of snow while snowfall continues. Heavy snow made the roads slippery causing vehicles to skid. Dhalli-Kufri, Kufri-Chail, Mashobra-Bhekalti, Shimla-Theog roads are all blocked due to snowfall but clearing operations have begun. All roads in urban Shimla area are open, informed Shimla deputy commissioner Amit Kashyap. He said they have all been covered with sand to avoid any untoward incidents. National Highways Authority of India is carrying out snow clearing operation on Shimla-Narkanda-Rampur NH 5 and Luhri-Anni-Kullu NH 305.
Also read: These Snowy Properties In Himachal Pradesh Are Perfect For A Delhi Getaway You Will Never Forget!
It’s time to buckle up for a winter comeback in the country. Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and parts of Rajasthan are all expecting rain to cause temperatures to dip. Perhaps, the worst is yet to come. We might just see a January colder than the bon-chilling December 2019 gave us. Trips up north must be well planned to avoid problem areas and possible landslides. Prepare yourselves travellers, the Orange Alert is real.
Also read: These Snowy Properties In Himachal Pradesh Are Perfect For A Delhi Getaway You Will Never Forget!