turning the hill town whiter as the region had already experienced snowfall recently.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that several high-altitude areas in Himachal Pradesh received heavy snow, while lower regions saw rain, thunderstorms, and a sharp drop in temperature.
Heavy Snowfall in Higher Areas
Besides Kothi, snowfall was recorded in:
- Keylong – 20 cm
- Kukumseri – 16.2 cm
- Jot – 6 cm
- Kalpa – 4.5 cm
- Sangla – 3.5 cm
With the mercury dipping, Kukumseri was the coldest at -5.2°C. Snow-covered roads have hit travel in Lahaul-Spiti and upper Kinnaur, leaving several stretches slippery and risky.
Rain, Thunderstorms, and Hail in Lower Areas
IMD data showed that mid and lower hills saw heavy rain, with the highest recorded in:
- Bhuntar – 25.8 mm
- Manali – 25.0 mm
- Seobagh – 21.2 mm
- Banjar – 19.2 mm
Thunderstorms hit Shimla, Kangra, Palampur, Sundernagar, and Jot, while Kangra and Shillaroo saw hailstorms. Strong winds were recorded in Tabo (37 km/h).
Cold Wave and Temperature Drop
IMD reported that daytime temperatures fell 3-11°C below normal, leading to severe cold conditions in:
- Kalpa (-1.2°C, 7.3°C below normal)
- Mandi (9.5°C, 10.9°C below normal)
- Chamba (9.2°C, 11.2°C below normal)
In Una, the temperature dipped to 7.4°C, 4.5°C below normal.
More Snow Expected on March 9
The weather is expected to remain dry from March 5-8, but another Western Disturbance is likely on March 9, bringing more snowfall in the mountains and rain in lower areas.
For now, there are no weather warnings, but locals and tourists are advised to check road conditions before traveling to snow-bound areas.
(Source: India Meteorological Department, Shimla)
