northwest region likely to get snow and rain

Chandigarh, FEB 18 (UNI) Snow, hailstorm and rains were likely to lash Himachal Pradesh in the next 24 hours, the weatherman predicted today while mercury fell slightly in many places of the northwest plains.

After snowfall and rains creating coldwave-like conditions in the hills in the past 24 hours, the sky remained overcast today in most places in the plains, increasing the chances of rains accompanied by strong winds and hailstorm in many places in the next 24 hours, the Met office here said.

In Punjab, the minimum temperature remained less than four degree celsius in many places with cold conditions prevailing.

However, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala recorded a slight rise in the mercury, showing 7 degrees, 5.3 degrees and 6.7 degrees celsius respectively. Ground frost is likely to occur at isolated places in the state during the next night.

The minimum temperature dropped at various places in Haryana, including Karnal and Narnaul respectively recording 6.6 degrees and 9.5 degrees, while the minimum temprature dropped to 7.1 degrees at Ambala.

Cold wave persisted in Himachal Pradesh following light snowfall in higher reaches of the state. The minimum remained minus 6.2 at Kalpa in Kinnaur district.

In Shimla the temperature furthur fell from yesterday's minus 0.5 to 0.2 degrees celsius. The sky in the capital town remained clouded and snow and rain was expected here in the next 24 hours.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 3.1 degree at Bhuntar in Kullu district and 2.1 degree at Sundernagar in Mandi district.

The night temperatures fell again to 8 degree in Chandigarh after showing a rise to 8.4 degrees yesterday. The day remained cold and cloudy in the Union Territory.

The weather office has predicted light to moderate rain or snow in many places in Himachal Pradesh while the rains and hail storm will occur in parts of Punjab and Haryana in the next 24 hours.

UNI