Shimla, nestled amidst the picturesque Himalayas, encountered an unusual spike in temperatures, marking its hottest November day in six years. On Wednesday, the city recorded a minimum temperature of 21°C, a notable departure from the November temperatures in 2017, when the mercury hit 21.8°C. Since then, November’s maximum temperatures in Shimla have consistently hovered below 20°C.
Amidst this unexpected warmth, Himachal Pradesh is preparing for an impending change in weather patterns as a Western Disturbance is forecasted to sweep across the northwestern Himalayan region starting Saturday. Surender Paul, director of the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, anticipates a static maximum temperature in the coming days, coupled with a drop in minimum temperatures. The region is bracing for snowfall in higher altitudes and sporadic rainfall across lower hills and plains from November 26 to 28.
Throughout November, the state has received approximately 10% less rainfall than the expected average. Between November 1 and 22, Himachal Pradesh received 11 mm of rainfall, slightly below the anticipated 12.2 mm for this period.
As the temperature landscape unfolds, nighttime temperatures across the state are maintaining normalcy, albeit slight dips in certain areas. Samadoh in Lahaul-Spiti district marked the coldest temperature at minus 2.2°C, followed by Kalpa at 2.8°C. Manali recorded a minimum temperature of 3.1°C, while Bhunter experienced a low of 3.3°C.
In Shimla, the state capital, the nighttime temperature settled at 8.2°C, with Kufri, a renowned hill resort, witnessing a temperature of 8°C. Dalhousie recorded 8.4°C, while Dharamshala and Palampur registered 9.2°C and 6.5°C, respectively. Lower-lying areas such as Solan, Mandi, Una, and Chamba reported temperatures ranging from 4.2°C to 7.1°C.
Meanwhile, Dhaulakuan stood as the warmest region, recording a daytime temperature of 25°C amidst these fluctuating weather conditions. As the state anticipates the incoming Western Disturbance, residents and authorities prepare for the likelihood of snowfall and rainfall, offering respite from the unusual warmth Shimla experienced this November.
Sources By Agencies
