Shimla, April 28: A sharp rise in temperatures across Himachal Pradesh has set the stage for a mixed bag of weather this week, with the India Meteorological Department warning of intermittent thunderstorms, gusty winds and even hail at isolated places—raising concerns for both farmers and tourists.
The past 24 hours saw above-normal temperatures by 2–5°C across most parts of the state, with Una sizzling at 42°C, triggering heat wave conditions, while Kukumseri remained the coldest at 6.6°C. Rainfall activity remained negligible, indicating dry and warming conditions for now.
Forecast: Calm start, rough spells ahead
According to the IMD bulletin, the next seven days will not stay quiet for long:
April 28–29: Partly cloudy skies with chances of thunderstorms and gusty winds (30–40 kmph) at isolated places across Kullu, Kangra, and Mandi
April 30: Weather may turn harsher with hailstorms, lightning, and stronger winds (40–50 kmph), particularly in mid and high hill areas like Manali and Kalpa
May 1–3: Continued risk of thunderstorms and gusty winds, scattered across districts including Solan and Bilaspur
Impact on farmers
For apple belts in Rohru, Kotgarh, and Theog: Hailstorm risk on April 30 could damage flowering orchards.Gusty winds may lead to fruit drop and branch stress.Sudden weather shifts may trigger pest and fungal activity
Popular tourist spots like Kufri, Dharamshala, and Dalhousie may see: Sudden thunderstorms and lightning disrupting travel, but giving a pleasant experience.
