Snow in HP, rain in Punjab, Haryana

Chandigarh, Nov 30 (UNI) High altitude areas in Himachal Pradesh experienced snowfall while parts of Punjab and Haryana had rain, breaking a long dry spell in the region.

The sky remained overcast at many places as the Sun played hide and seek during the day. However, the minimum temperatures hovered two degrees to six degrees celsius above normal in the plains.

Higher reaches in tribal district of Lahaul spiti, Pangi valley and Bharmour in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh experienced a snowfall today, plummeting the temperature.

A piercing cold wave lashed tribal areas following snowfall.

Chander Tal and Neel Kanth lakes in Lahaul Spiti district besides several natural water sources have frozen due to extreme cold conditions, a report from Shimla said.

The 13050-foot high Rohtang Pass, gateway to Lahaul Spiti district, also experienced snowfall, ushering in cold weather conditions in Kullu valley.

The capital town of Shimla was lashed by rain and sleet dipping the temperature to 4.8 degrees from 6.2 degrees recorded yesterday.

icy-cold winds blew across the town and tourist places of Wildflower Hall, Kufri, Naldehra and Narkanda, forcing the tourists to stay indoors.

Rain lashed certain areas in Punjab overnight with Amritsar, where the minimum temperature rose to 10.4 degrees, three degrees above normal, recording 13.6 mm rainfall overnight.

Ludhiana and Patiala, which were also lashed by rain, respectively recorded the minimum temperatures at 12.8 degrees and 13.3 degrees, six degrees above normal.

The night temperatures also rose in Haryana where Ambala and Karnal towns reported rainfall. Both these towns registered five degrees above normal temperature, respectively recording 13.6 degrees and 14.8 degrees celsius. Narnaul showed 9.0 degrees which was one degree below normal.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas also experienced mild rain after an overcast sky in the morning. The minimum temperature, however, rose to 13.0 degrees, five degrees above normal, in the city.

The Met Office predicted light to moderate rain or snow at few places in Himachal Pradesh and rain or thundershowers at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 48 hours.

UNI