With the activation of a Western Disturbance, the weather in the tribal and remote district of Lahaul-Spiti has taken a turn for the worse. Snowfall began in the remote Miyar Valley, located in the Udaipur subdivision of the district, on Sunday morning. Snowfall was also recorded at the Rohtang, Baralacha, and Shinkula passes on Saturday night. Approximately 2 to 3 inches of fresh snow were recorded in the Miyar Valley on Sunday morning. The entire valley is now covered in a blanket of white. Cloudy conditions in the higher mountainous regions, including the hill stations of Shimla and Manali, since Sunday morning have intensified the cold, while dense fog in the plains and lower areas has slowed down daily life.
In the capital city of Shimla, the minimum temperature on Sunday was recorded at 11 degrees Celsius, which is about 5 degrees higher than normal, while in Manali, the temperature was recorded at 6.7 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, dense fog significantly affected visibility in the lower and plain districts like Bilaspur, Una, and Mandi. Visibility was extremely low in many areas during the morning and late-night hours, affecting road traffic and requiring drivers to exercise caution.
The Meteorological Department has issued a warning stating that dense fog is likely to prevail in the lower districts of the state during the late night and morning hours for the next four days. A yellow alert has been issued for this. According to the department, dense fog is expected between December 22 and 25, especially in parts of Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, and Mandi districts. The Shimla Meteorological Centre has also clarified in its forecast that the weather will remain dry in the state from December 22 to 27.
Meanwhile, a large number of tourists are flocking to the valleys of Shimla, Kufri, and Manali in the hope of witnessing snowfall. While hotels and tourist destinations are bustling with activity due to the Christmas and New Year holidays, the clear weather forecast from the Meteorological Department has dampened the hopes of tourists. These tourist destinations are still waiting for the first snowfall of the season.
