Chilly weather prevailed in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday due to widespread snowfall in the middle and high hills and rains in the plain areas. The minimum temperature in Keylong plummeted to minus 7.9 degrees Celsius. Icy cool waves emitting from the Himalayas sweep the state, bringing down the temperature.
The Meteorological Department said the highest temperature on Wednesday was at Paonta Sahib -- 17.6 degrees. The maximum snowfall was recorded at Khadrala (8 cm), Kothi (7 cm), Kukumseri, Hansa and Kufri (5 cm each), Gondla (4 cm) and Keylong (3 cm). Rohroo in Shimla district got 19 mm of rains followed by Saloni (13 mm), Chamba (11 mm), Dalhousie (10 mm), Dharamshala (8 mm), Palampur (6 mm) and Nagrota as well as Manali (5 mm each).
The Met warned that heavy rains and thunderstorm accompanied with lightning were likely in Una, Bilaspur, Chamba, Kangra and Kullu. Heavy snowfall was likely in Kinnaur, Lahul and Spiti, Chamba, Kangra and Kullu on January 22. It warned of disruptions of essential services including water and electricity as well as communications. Visibility could fall drastically and landslides could occur.