The actual rainfall in the state in March was 5.4 mm, which was 95 per cent less than the long period average.
The hills of Himachal Pradesh witnessed unusually high temperatures this year and stations in Kangra, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti and Solan districts recorded the highest temperatures so far this month, an official of the Meteorological Department said here on Thursday. .
He said that heat wave conditions are prevailing in the central and lower hill areas of the state for the last 15 days.
The official told IANS that for the next five-seven days, mostly dry conditions would prevail in the state and there would be no major respite from the prevailing hot conditions.
Una town recorded the highest temperature of 38 degrees Celsius on March 30, while the minimum temperature was minus 9.6 degrees Celsius in Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti district on March 2.
According to the official, in the last five years, the hill state, whose economy is largely dependent on horticulture, agriculture and hydropower, has received the least rainfall during the last 14 summer months.
The actual rainfall in the state in March was 5.4 mm, which was 95 per cent less than the long period average. “This was due to the absence of any significant western disturbance in the state,” the official said.
During 2016, the state received 96 per cent less rainfall than the average during this period. Last year, he said, it was 62 percent lower than the average during the period.
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