शिमला में सीजन की पहली बर्फबारी: ड्राई स्पैल टूटा; मंडी, कुल्लू, किन्नौर, लाहौल स्पीति, चंबा, कांगड़ा में भी बिछी बर्फ की सफेद चादर

Today on Lohri, Hills Queen Shimla got its first snowfall of the season. After about two and a half months, the weather has broken the cycle of dry spell here. The weather was ready to rain in the night itself, but by morning, snow started falling from the sky. A light white sheet of snow has been spread at Mall Road, US Club, Jakhu in Shimla.

Light showers of rain are falling at other places. With the onset of snowfall, the cold has also increased considerably in Shimla. There is intermittent snowfall in all the high altitude areas including Upper Shimla Kufri, Narkanda, Khada Patthar, Chaupal, Rohru, Chanshal, Narkanda.

White silver lying in Spiti’s Losar

Snowfall started in Chauharghati and Parashar Valley of Mandi
At the same time, snowfall has started in Chauharghati and Parashar Valley of Mandi district. If the weather pattern remains like this overnight, there is a possibility of heavy snowfall. Farmers are about to get relief from the severe drought that has been going on for more than 4 months. After Lohri festival, farmers can start sowing.

Tourists enjoying snowfall at Parashar Valley in Mandi.

The weather will be bad for the next 5 days
After the Western Disturbance becomes active, the weather will remain bad for the next 5 days. Shimla Meteorological Center Director Surendra Pal said heavy snowfall alert has been issued in some high altitude areas of Kinnaur, Lahaul Spiti and Kullu districts, while in higher reaches of Shimla, Chamba, Kangra, Mandi and Sirmaur districts. It may snow for the next 3 days.

According to the bulletin issued by the Meteorological Department, there has been fresh snowfall in 8 districts of the state during the last 24 hours. A thick layer of snow has been spread at Losar in Lahaul Spiti district, Rohtang Tunnel, Kunjumpas, Baralacha. Light snowfall is also occurring in the higher altitude areas of Lahaul Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu and Chamba’s Pangi, Bharmour.

At the same time, a huge drop in temperature has been recorded. Shimla’s minimum temperature has reached 1.4 degree Celsius. Sundar Nagar 6.5, Bhuntar 6.4, Kalpa minus 2.6, Keylong minus 6.3, Kufri minus 1.2, Kukumseri minus 4.2, Narkanda minus 2.8, Dalhousie minus 0.1 and Manali minus 0.4 degree Celsius.

It is snowing somewhere in Shimla and it is raining somewhere.

Heavy snowfall alert in these areas
The Meteorological Department has issued an alert of heavy snowfall on January 13 in Teesa and Bhatiyat of Chamba. Heavy snowfall has been reported in Shimla tonight and tomorrow and Sirmaur district in the higher reaches of Kangra.

Full rain, snowfall in Shimla after October 11
After the forecast of the Meteorological Department, the dry-spell has been broken for the people of the state, because there has been no rain-snowfall in the state since October 10-11, 2022. Especially in the month of December, there was not even a drop of rain in all other districts except Lahaul-Spiti district. Farmers-horticulturists, tourism businessmen and residents of the state are worried due to this. The first week of January has also been dry.

Beautiful view after snowfall in Himachal.

Advisory for tourists and local people
Tourists and local people have been advised to take precautions during the yellow alert for snowfall. During this, it has been asked not to do trekking especially in high altitude areas.

Tourists and tourism businessmen are bound
Due to snowfall on all the high peaks of Himachal including Shimla, tourism business is expected to boom in the state. People have started moving towards Himachal in the desire of equality. With the onset of snowfall in Kullu Manali, Dharamshala, Chamba and now Shimla, the inflow has also increased here. After seeing the forecast of the Meteorological Department, people started booking in advance. It has reached up to 80% occupancy in the hotels here.

Panoramic view after snowfall in Himachal.

Snowfall everywhere except Solan, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur

Chamba – 5 in Khajjiar, 5 in Bharmour, 4 in Killad, one in Dalhousie, 5 in Jot, 2 inches of fresh snow in Saluni.

1 inch of fresh snowfall has been recorded in Chitkul of Kinnaur.

In Kullu’s Jalori Jot, 2 inches of snow fell in Manali, 24 inches in Rohtang Top, 12 in Atal Tunnel, 6 in Solang, 12 in Malana and 3 inches in Barsaini.

Darcha and Sirchu of Lahaul Spiti have received 3-3 inches of snow.

In Mandi’s Shikari Devi, 5 inches of snow fell in one Khauli in eight Janjehli.

In Kufri of Shimla, 1.5 in Theog, Decimal, 5 in Narkanda, 2 in Khada Patthar, 2.5 in Window, 1.5 in Churdhar, 9 in Chanshal, 10 in Dodra Quar, 1.5 in Baghi, one in Kotgarh, 1.5 inches of snow has fallen in Chaupal.

Haripurdhar of Sirmour received 2 inches of snow.

10 inches of snow fell in Bada Bengal of Kangra and 3 inches in Triund.