Shimla, April 6:
Himachal Pradesh is once again staring at unstable weather conditions, with the Meteorological Centre in Shimla warning of a fresh western disturbance set to impact the region from April 7.
The past 24 hours saw a mixed bag of weather across the state. While maximum temperatures recorded an appreciable rise at most stations, they still hovered below normal in several areas. Minimum temperatures, however, remained largely steady, with some places dipping 2–4°C below normal.
Tabo in Lahaul-Spiti remained the coldest at 0.9°C, while Una sizzled at a high of 34°C, reflecting the sharp contrast between the tribal and lower hill regions.
Rainfall activity was widespread, with Kasauli topping the chart at 31.2 mm, followed closely by Dharampur (29.8 mm) and Sarahan (29.5 mm).
Shimla and its adjoining areas also witnessed thunderstorms and lightning, while Khadrala in Shimla district reported hailstorm activity—raising fresh concerns among apple growers already battling erratic weather and have suffered huge losses.
But the hail storms have damaged apple and other vegetables crops in shimla, Kullu and Mandi and solan districts.
The MeT office has now issued a fresh alert: thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds are likely at isolated places over the next 3–4 days. Wind speeds could reach 50–60 kmph during peak activity, posing risks to standing crops and orchard bloom.
More worryingly for farmers, hailstorms are likely at isolated locations on April 7 and 8—right when apple orchards in mid and higher altitudes are entering the crucial flowering stage.
For tourists, the advisory is clear—expect sudden weather changes, especially in higher reaches, with thunderstorms and gusty winds likely to disrupt travel plans.
For farmers, particularly apple growers, the timing couldn’t be worse. With bloom underway, even a short spell of hail can cause irreversible damage to the crop, hitting yields and incomes hard.
The coming week, weather experts say, will be crucial in determining how the season unfolds for Himachal’s fragile hill agriculture and its tourism-dependent economy.
