The week-long spell of clear skies and bright sunshine in Himachal Pradesh is about to end as the meteorological department forecasts a dramatic weather shift right before the monsoon retreats. The state is expected to experience heavy downpours, high-altitude snowfall, and squally winds gusting up to 50 km/h over the coming days. In response to this imminent atmospheric turmoil, weather officials have issued targeted warnings and advisories across various regions.
District-Wise Warnings and Alert Level Details
According to weather updates, precipitation is anticipated on September 24 and September 26. However, a specific yellow alert has been activated for September 26, pointing to likely rainfall across Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur districts. While no formal alerts cover the remaining nine districts on that day, light to moderate rainfall remains probable. Weather activity is projected to peak on September 27, when an orange alert will be in effect exclusively for Sirmaur district. On the same day, a yellow alert will apply to most other districts, barring Hamirpur, Chamba, and Lahaul-Spiti. For September 28, a yellow alert remains in place with expected showers across Solan, Shimla, and Sirmaur.
Projections for Temperature Drop Across the State
The incoming weather front will noticeably alter thermal conditions throughout Himachal Pradesh. Minimum temperatures across most locations are anticipated to stay relatively unchanged over the next 48 hours. Following this window, night temperatures are projected to slide gradually by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius over the subsequent 2 to 3 days. Furthermore, daytime temperatures will see a more significant drop, with maximum readings likely falling between 2 and 5 degrees Celsius over the next 4 to 5 days, bringing a sharp chill to the region.
Current Temperature Extremes and Previous Snowfall Incidents
Signs of early autumn cold are already evident in the higher altitudes. On Thursday, Kukumseri in Lahaul-Spiti recorded the state's lowest minimum temperature at 4.7 degrees Celsius, whereas Una registered the highest maximum temperature at 34 degrees Celsius. Earlier on September 17, high-altitude ridges in Kangra, Chamba, Kinnaur, Kullu, and Lahaul-Spiti experienced fresh snowfall, which also lightly covered Rohtang Pass. Following that snowfall event on Drillburi mountain in Lahaul, severe cold and slippery terrain led to the tragic deaths of two women.
