Warm trend continues, Solan & Dharamsala see record November temperature

The winter is not too far away, but the temperature continues to rise in the hill state. Solan and Dharamsala have logged their highest-ever maximum temperature for the month of November.

Solan recorded 29°C on Sunday, surpassing 28.7°C recorded on November 1, 2020, while Dharamsala logged 27.6°C on Saturday, its previous high for November being 27.4°C in 2022.

Lack of rain to blame

It’s primarily the lack of rain for over a month now that is driving up the maximum temperature across the state. Global factors are also playing their part. Weather official

A day before, Una sizzled at 33.4°C, its record high for the month, surpassing 33.1°C recorded on November 17, 2000.

Keylong, too, registered its record high on Saturday at 20°C, surpassing 19.6°C recorded in 2016. It took a deviation of a massive 10.5°C from the normal temperature for Keylong to register its record high mercury.

“It’s primarily the lack of rain for over a month now that is driving up the maximum temperature across the state,” said a weather official.

October has gone almost dry, recording 97 per cent deficient rainfall. It turned out to be the third highest rain-deficient October since 1901. “The dry spell is likely to continue for at least another week. There’s no sign of any active western disturbance until November 10,” the official said.

Incidentally, it’s not the first time this year that the maximum temperature has touched a record high. In September, four places — Kangra, Sundernagar, Bhuntar and Una — logged their highest temperature ever for the month. While Bhuntar recorded an all-time high temperature of 35.5°C on September 24, Kangra recorded 35°C on September 23-24. Sundernagar recorded 35.1°C on September 23 and Una recorded 38.6°C on September 24.

A big surge in the temperature was recorded in May as well. Una touched 46°C, its all-time high temperature for all months. Several other places, including Shimla, had come close to touching their highest temperature ever in May. A similar surge in the maximum temperature was noticed in January too when places like Shimla, Solan, Keylong, Kalpa and Bhuntar recorded figures that were seven to 13 degrees higher than normal.

The stats bare it all

• Solan recorded 29°C on Sunday, surpassing the previous high of 28.7°C on Nov 1, 2020
• Dharamsala logged 27.6°C on Saturday, its previous high for November being 27.4°C in 2022
• Una sizzled at 33.4°C on Friday, its record high for the month, surpassing 33.1°C recorded on November 17, 2000
• Keylong, too, registered its record high on Saturday at 20°C, surpassing 19.6°C recorded in 2016