Fresh sleet revives hopes of snowfall in Shimla

While the higher reaches of the state experienced snowfall owing to the latest western disturbances, the queen of hills was taken by surprise with sleet on Thursday, reviving hopes of snowfall.

While the higher reaches of the state experienced snowfall owing to the latest western disturbances, the queen of hills was taken by surprise with sleet on Thursday, reviving hopes of snowfall.

People bundle up to keep themselves warm as sleet falls at the Ridge in Shimla on Thursday. (Deepak Sansta/HT Photo)

With scanty snowfall on December 23 last year, followed by a “no white Christmas and New Year”, the locals, as well as tourists have their hopes pinned on witnessing good snowfall this January.

Higher reaches of Manali received 4-cm snowfall on Wednesday. The Shimla meteorological department has predicted snow or rain across the state in the next 48 hours. While rain is expected in the isolated places of the lower hills, snow is expected in the mid and high hills of the state.

In Shimla, locals and tourists woke up to a slightly overcast sky and in the late afternoon, sleet lashed the town, forming a thin blanket.

The Ridge in Shimla slowly turns white as sleet falls.

Manmohan Singh, director of the Shimla meteorological department, said, “Shimla and its surrounding areas experienced a fresh sleet owing to western disturbances. The probability of snow continues to be bright in the next 48 hours in the higher reaches as well as in Shimla town. No rain is expected in the lower hills.”

Manali was recorded at 1°celsius, Sundernagar 4.6°C, Bhunter 5.6°C, Dharamshala 6.8°C, Palampur 6.5°C, Dalhousie 4.7°C, Chamba 5.4°C, Una 7.2°C, Kangra 7.4°C, Nahan 10.4°C and Solan at 4.2 °Celsius.