Mercury witnesses big surge in Himachal, many areas record highest September temperature

The maximum temperatures have seen a massive surge over the last few days in the state. While four places recorded the highest ever maximum temperatures for the month of September, many other places recorded their highest maximum temperatures over the last one decade or more. Kangra, Sundernagar, Bhuntar and Una logged their all-time high temperatures for the month of September. While Bhuntar recorded an all-time high temperature of 35.5 ° Celsius on September 24, Kangra recorded 35° Celsius on September 23-24.

Unusual weather

• The normally cold places at this time of the year, Shimla, Manali and Dharamsala, witness sharp spike
• Kangra, Sundernagar, Bhuntar and Una logged their all-time high temperatures for the month of September

Similarly, Sundernagar recorded its highest maximum temperature of 35.1 ° Celsius on September 23, and Una recorded 38.6 ° Celsius on September 24.

Kuldeep Srivastava, Director, Meteorological Centre, Shimla, attributed the sudden spike in temperatures to the significant decrease in rainfall activity over the last few days. “The rainfall activity reduced significantly over the last few days, and there has been good sunlight. It caused the temperatures to rise across the state,” the Director said.

Even the normally cold places at this time of the year, such as Shimla, Manali and Dharamsala, witnessed a sharp spike in temperatures. Shimla recorded a high of 28.4 ° Celsius on September 23-24 – the highest since 1994 when it logged an all-time high of 28.6 °Celsius. Meanwhile, Manali bore a temperature of 27.7 °Celsius on September 23, the second highest here in the last 10 years. Dharamsala also logged its highest maximum temperature (32.0 °Celsius) in the last ten years on September 24.

Srivastava said that maximum temperatures are likely to fall by two to three degree Celsius across the state over the next few days due to the resumption of rainfall activity. The department has issued a yellow alert of lightning and thunderstorms at isolated places over the next two days. There’s also a forecast for light to moderate rainfall at a few places in the state.