Heavy rain lashes Solan, Narkanda, Manali
Shimla and its surrounding areas were lashed by a storm while Pandoh, Solan, Kotkhai, Narkanda and some other places experienced heavy rain. Visibility was reduced to a few metres as dark clouds hovered in the sky.
The local MeT office has issued a yellow warning of a thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds blowing at a speed of 30 to 40 kmph at isolated places in 10 districts from May 5 to 7. It also predicted a thunderstorm and rain in mid hills and rain and snow in higher hills from May 5 to 10 and rain and a thunderstorm in lower hills from May 5 to 8 as a fresh western disturbance as a cyclonic circulation lies over the region.
There was widespread rain in the state; Pandoh received 47 mm, Solan 42 mm, Kotkhai 39 mm, Narkanda 35 mm, followed by Dalhousie and Palampur 22 mm, Manali and Bijahi 19 mm, Mandi and Gaggal 18 mm, Jubbarhatti 17 mm, Baldwara and Karsog 15 mm, Khadrala 10 mm, Dharamsala and Gohar 9 mm and Baijnath 8 mm.
The maximum temperatures plummeted and Chamba recorded a high of 18.5°C, 18 degrees below normal, while Dalhousie recorded the day temperature of 13.9°C, nine degrees below normal, Sundernagar 25.7°C, 25.2°C, seven degrees below normal; Nahan 27.8°C, Palampur 23°C, Manali 19.6°C, four to six degrees below normal. Una with a high of 35.4°C was the hottest during the day while Solan and Shimla recorded the maximum temperatures of 28.5°C and 21.7°C.
The minimum temperatures also dropped marginally and Keylong and Kalpa in Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts recorded a low of 7°C and 7.2°C, while Kufri and Dalhousie recorded a low of 10.9°C and 12.1°C, followed by Shimla 14.6°C, Solan 14.9°C, Dharamsala 17°C, Nahan 20.2°C and Una 24.2°C.Stormy conditions are not conducive for wheat and rabi crops and apple and stone crops and the forecast of a thunderstorm, gusty winds and lightening is adding to the worries of the farmers.