Mild snowfall in higher reaches of Himachal

Atal Tunnel Rohtang covered in a thick blanket of fresh snowfall, in Kathua. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

The higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh, including the North Portal of Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, received fresh snowfall, prompting the police to ask commuters to avoid unnecessary travel as the roads turn slippery and visibility is reduced.

Kalpa in Kinnaur district received 0.2 cm of snow.

A western disturbance as a cyclonic circulation lies over west Afghanistan and adjoining Iran, which is likely to move east-northeast wards during the next two days, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

As a consequence, light snowfall is likely at many places and isolated spells of moderate snowfall are very likely in Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and higher reaches of Kangra, Chamba, Shimla, Mandi, Sirmaur and Kullu districts.

“Light rainfall is expected over many places in the remaining parts of Kangra, Chamba, Shimla, Mandi, Sirmaur and Kullu districts from afternoon of February 4 to midnight of February 5,” it added.

The local Meteorological station had on Monday (February 3, 2025) issued yellow warning of thunderstorm and lightning at isolated places in Kangra, Shimla, Solan, Kullu and Sirmaur districts.

Thunderstorms and lightning are likely at isolated places in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur Chamba and Mandi districts on February 4.

“Few spells of light snowfall with one or two moderate spells are likely over tourist destinations of Kufri, Narkanda, Manali, Solang Valley, Dalhousie, Sissu and adjoining areas from the afternoon of February 4 to evening of February 5,” the (IMD) added.

Tabo in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest at night recording a low of minus 7.1°C, while Bhuntar in Kullu district with 25.2°C was the hottest on Monday (February 3, 2025) afternoon.

The winter season rain deficit in the state from January 1 to February 4 was 86% as the state received 13.4 mm of rain against 94.1 mm of normal rainfall seen during this period.