Keylong, Atal Tunnel wrapped in white blanket

Shimla, February 19

Higher reaches of Kullu, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti and Chamba districts received heavy snowfall. Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district witnessed 33 cm snow, North Portal of Atal Tunnel 45 cm, South Portal 109 cm, Bharmour in Chamba district 12 cm, while Kalpa in Kinnaur district received 2 cm snow.

Manali was lashed by 25 mm rain, Dalhousie 11 mm, Chamba 10.5 mm and Bhuntar 2 mm rain. As a result of the heavy snowfall, the North Portal of Atal Tunnel has been closed for traffic movement.

Weather remained mostly cloudy during the day today. Gusty winds continued since morning. Light rainfall occurred in the state capital during the evening hours.

Heavy snowfall is expected on February 20 as the weather department has issued an orange alert for Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur and Kinnaur disricts. The department has also issued a yellow warning for Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts for February 20 which will result in thunderstorms along with lightning at isolated places.

Director, State’s Meteorological Department, Surender Paul, said that light to moderate snowfall and rainfall occurred at a few places of the state during the last 24 hours. He said snowfall in higher hills would continue till February 24 while snowfall and rainfall in middle hills and rainfall in lower hills and plains will go on till February 22. “Weather will remain dry across the state on February 25,” he said.

Shimla recorded the maximum temperature of 14°C, while in Kufri near Shimla it was 8.7°C. Manali, Dharamsala and Dalhousie recorded 4.9°C, 16°C and 11.1°C, respectively.

Solan recorded the maximum temperature of 21.2°C, Mandi 20.4°C, Kangra 19.9°C, Reckong Peo 6.7°C, Nahan 21°C, Bhuntar 12.4°C, Una 24°C and Bilaspur 25.7°C.

Keylong was the coldest as it experienced minus 0.5°C of minimum temperature while Dhaula Kuan in Sirmaur district was the hottest with 27°C.