Himachal braces for 3 days of thunderstorms, gusty winds

A yellow weather warning had been issued for thunderstorm, hailstorm and lightening in the low and middle hills from April 5 to 7

A western disturbance in the region will bring another spell of rain and snow in Himachal Pradesh, officials of the weather department said on Sunday.

There was a slight increase in day and night temperatures across the state. The minimum temperatures increased by 1-2°C. However, they were 3-4°C below normal. (Representative Image/HT File)

Shimla meteorological centre director Manmohan Singh said, “A yellow weather warning had been issued for thunderstorm, hailstorm and lightening in the low and middle hills from April 5 to 7.The region will also witness gusty winds blowing at 30-40 km per hour.”

There was a slight increase in day and night temperatures across the state. The minimum temperatures increased by 1-2°C. However, they were 3-4°C below normal.

Keylong, the administrative headquarters of the tribal Lahaul-Spiti district, was the coldest place in the state recording minimum temperature of minus 1.8°C while Kalpa in Kinnaur shivered at 1.1°C.

The state’s capital, Shimla, recorded a low of 10.5°C while Dharamshala recorded 10.8°C temperature.

Popular hill stations, Manali, Palampur Dalhousie and Kufri recorded a temperature of 3°C, 8.5°C , 6.1°C and 2.4°C, respectively.

Rain is vital for rabbi crops as the winters were unexpectedly dry. The arid climatic conditions across Himachal have caused extensive damage to crops.

In March, the hill-state recorded a cumulative rain deficit of around 62%. About 30-40% wheat crop has been damaged in the state and farmers are staring at huge losses.