The high altitude tribal areas witness arctic conditions as mercury stayed between minus 8 and minus 14 degrees Celsius, resulting in freezing of natural sources of water such as lakes, springs and rivulets.
City Air News photo: Author
Dharamsala, December 11, 2013: Bone freezing cold wave is sweeping the hill state of Himachal for the past few days despite a dry weather. Cold wave gripped Himachal Pradesh as mercury dipped below freezing point in several parts of the state. The high altitude tribal areas witnessed arctic conditions as mercury stayed between minus 8 and minus 14 degrees Celsius, resulting in freezing of natural sources of water such as lakes, springs and rivulets.
The mercury dipped to minus one degree Celsius at Manali and Kalpa while Bhuntar, Sundernagar and Solan recorded a low of 1.4 deg C, 2 deg C and 2.2 deg C respectively, three degrees below normal. Keylong in tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.6 degrees. The minimum temperature settled at 4 deg C in Una while Palampur recorded a low of 4.5 deg C, 2.5 notches below the normal. Nahan and Dharamsala recorded a low of 5.6 degrees, 6.6 degrees and 7.2 deg C respectively.
The maximum temperature remained close to normal; Una in Shivalik foothills was hottest during the day with maximum of 24 deg C while Sundernagar recorded a high of 23.9 deg C, followed by Solan 22 deg C, Bhunter 21.5 deg C, Nahan 20.5 deg C, Dharamsala 17.6 deg C, Shimla 15.6 deg C and Kalpa 12.6 deg C.
The Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft) which normally closes on November 15 is still open and the Border Roads Organisation officials hope that the pass would be kept open for vehicular traffic till heavy snowfall./ dharamsala news update, dharamsala information, dharamsala news, himachal news online, himachal news kangra, himachal news in english, himachal news today, himachal news, india news