Snowflakes and Showers: Himachal Braces for a Wintry Week
Himachal Pradesh is gearing up for a dramatic turn in weather as heavy snow and rain are expected to sweep across the state starting January 23. The Meteorological Department has sounded an orange alert for Kullu, Chamba, and Lahaul-Spiti, while Shimla, Solan, Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una, Kinnaur, and Sirmaur are under a yellow warning.
For residents of the higher and middle hills, thick blankets of snow are likely to transform the landscape, while the plains and valleys will be drenched in steady showers. The wintry spell is expected to last until January 28, with only January 25 offering a brief pause in the precipitation. Temperatures are set to dip further—minimums by 2°C to 4°C and maximums by 6°C to 10°C—making the chill even sharper.
The past 24 hours brought mostly dry conditions, though cold waves gripped Kangra, Mandi, Una, Hamirpur, and Bilaspur. Minimum temperatures hovered between minus 9°C and 9°C, while maximums ranged from 3°C to 25°C.
Shimla recorded a minimum of 5.6°C, Dharamsala 5°C, and Manali a frosty 1.5°C. Kalpa dipped to minus 2°C, while Kukumseri shivered at minus 7.1°C. On the other end of the spectrum, Neri village in Hamirpur basked at 25.4°C, making it the warmest spot in the state. Meanwhile, Tabo in Lahaul-Spiti endured the coldest night at minus 8.7°C.
As Himachal braces for the coming week, locals and tourists alike can expect a mix of snow-clad beauty and rain-soaked valleys—a reminder of the state’s dramatic winter charm.
