Snow to elude Shimla on new yr too

SHIMLA :With sun shining brightly in Himachal Pradesh, the ongoing dry conditions are likely to prevail in the state till the New Year dawns, the weather bureau said on Tuesday.

“There will be largely no chance of snowfall till December 31. Thereafter, the western disturbance is likely to be active in the state starting January 3 with chances of rain and snow,” said meteorological department director Manmohan Singh.

Hill destinations have been experiencing long hours of sunny weather for over a fortnight and the day temperatures in most places have risen.the maximum temperature in the hill state is one-two degrees above the season’s average, though nights and mornings are intensely cold.

Shimla, known for the imperial grandeur of buildings that were once institutions of power when it was the summer capital of British India, received season’s first snow on December 12 and thereafter there was no snow.

Capital town Shimla witnessed surge of tourist for Christmas celebrations as mercury dropped to 1.7 °C on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

The the maximum temperature recorded in the capital was 13.6 °C which dipped to 11.9°C on Monday. Shimla had recorded lowest temperature on December 12 when the mercury dipped to 0.2 degrees. Keylong in Lahaul-spiti district was the coldest in the state.met department director Manmohan Singh said due to dry and cold northwesterly winds, the temperature is dropping in the state.