WD likely to bring isolated rain and snow in HP

Shimla, Feb 20 (UNI) The Meteorological Office has forecast scattered rain and snow at isolated places in the state for two days from Thursday night following the presence of a weakened Western Disturbance (WD) over the adjoining state of Jammu and Kashmir.

''The weakened WD will not be as severe as witnessed earlier this month and only bring scattered rain or snow in the state for two days on Friday and Saturday from Thursday night onwards,'' Shimla Meteorological Office Director Manmohan Singh told UNI here.

He said the night temperatures in the state would increase slightly, while the day temperatures would decrease following the presence of the clouds over the state.

Meanwhile, the sky was clear across the state following which several areas of the state were recording night temperatures a little above normal for this period of the year.

The night temperature at Shimla town rose by a few notches to stand at 4.6 degrees as against 4.1 degree Celsius recorded yesterday, while Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded minimum temperatures at 3.7 and 2.3 degree Celsius respectively.

The met office said the minimum temperature at Keylong fell a few notches stood at minus 18.6 degrees as compared to minus 11 degrees recorded yesterday, while Kalpa in the tribal district of Kinnuar recorded a night temperature at minus 3.7 degrees.

Solan was cold at 2.5 degrees, while Una, Mandi, Palampur and Dharamshala recorded night temperature of 5.8, 6.5, 5.6 and 6.3 degree Celsius respectively, it added.

However, the maximum temperature at Shimla town rose by four degrees to stand at 17.1 degrees, while Sundernagar and Bhuntar were warm at 23.9 and 23.7 degree Celsius respectively.

The day temperature at Kalpa stood at 7.4, 20.4 at Dharamshala and 18.2 degrees at Mandi town, the met office added.

UNI AS VKJ SY BST2008