Higher reaches in HP experience snowfall

Chandigarh, Dec 13 (UNI) Higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh experienced fresh snowfall while isolated places in the hilly state and plains of Punjab and Haryana had rain today.

However, night temperatures further rose, hovering one degree to four degrees celsius above normal at many places in the region.

A thick fog enveloped several areas, including Bhatinda, Halwara, Sirsa, Hindon and Palam in Delhi, reducing visibility considerably at these places. The fog, however, disappeared as the day advanced.

Narnaul in Mahendergarh district turned out to be the coldest place in Haryana, recording a fall in the mercury to 6.0 degrees from 8.0 degrees registered yesterday.

However, the minimum rose at Ambala and Karnal, respectively recording 9.4 degrees and 10.6 degrees celsius, and remained static at 9.3 degrees celsius at Hissar.

Cold surface winds blew across Punjab where Amritsar with 5.6 degrees celsius remained the coldest places in the state. The minimum temperature hovered one degree above normal in the holy city which recorded trace rainfall till this morning.

The minimum temperature also rose at Patiala registering 9.7 degrees, four degrees above normal. Nangal, Balachour, Mukerian, Jalandhar and Ludhiana experienced rain overnight.

Cold wave conditions prevailed in many areas of Himachal Pradesh following more snow in tribal district of Kinnaur and Pangi and Bharmour areas of Chamba district.

A piercing cold wave swept the tribal areas where the minimum hovered below freezing point. Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded minus 6.6 degrees.

Mid and lower hills of the state, including Bhuntar, Sundernagar, Nahan, Dharamsala, Una and Shimla, experienced rainfall.

Kullu valley was under the impact of cold wave conditions as the temprature stayed low in the valley.

Bhuntar in the district recorded 3.1 degrees while Sundernagar in Mandi district showed 4.2 degrees following rain.

Shimla and its surrounding areas also reeled under cold wave conditions and the capital town recorded 1.6 degrees, two degrees below normal, following rain.

Chandigarh recorded an increase in the minimum temperature hovering four degrees above normal. The city registered the minimum at 11.0 degrees celsius.

The weather Office has predcited light to moderate rain or snow at many places in Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain or thundershowers at few places in Punjab and isolated places in Haryana during the next 24 hours.

Hailstorm or thundersquall with wind speed exceeding 45 km per hour is likely to occur at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

UNI