Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, recorded an unusually sharp drop in temperatures over the past 24 hours, with the minimum dipping to 3.6°C — the coldest April night the city has experienced in nearly 46 years.
Data from the Meteorological Centre in Shimla shows that this marks a significant departure from typical seasonal patterns. The last time temperatures fell to a comparable level in April was in 1979, when the mercury dropped to around 3.4°C.
According to Shobhit Katiyar, Head of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Himachal Pradesh, the sudden chill is the result of sustained rainfall and snowfall activity across the region over the past few days. “The maximum temperature in Shimla was recorded at 11.4°C, making it the lowest April daytime temperature in nearly 11 to 12 years. Similar conditions were last observed around 2015,” he said.
Katiyar noted that such a sharp decline in minimum temperatures during April has not been seen in over four decades, underscoring the unusual nature of the current weather pattern.
The ongoing influence of western disturbances has led to widespread precipitation across the state, particularly in higher altitude areas. Over the last few days, daytime temperatures in several regions have dropped by 10 to 12 degrees Celsius.
Rainfall has also been above seasonal averages. Between March 1 and April 10, Himachal Pradesh received 149 mm of rainfall against a normal of 136 mm — an excess of about 9 per cent. April alone has seen rainfall levels surge to 142 per cent above normal, though officials clarified that this does not qualify as a record-breaking event.
Snowfall during April is not uncommon in higher reaches such as Lahaul, Kullu, Chamba, and Kinnaur districts. Even within Shimla district, areas like Khadarala have witnessed April snowfall in previous years, including 2014, 2016, 2020, and 2021.
In the last 24 hours, temperatures in the higher reaches have dipped as low as minus 1°C, while several parts of the state, including Shimla, recorded temperatures 4 to 5 degrees below normal.
The IMD has forecast clearer conditions for the plains and mid-hill regions over the next five to seven days, with sunny weather expected to prevail. However, isolated higher altitude areas may experience light rain or snowfall on April 11 and 12.
A fresh western disturbance is expected to affect the region between April 16 and 18, though its impact is likely to be limited. Light precipitation may occur in higher reaches and adjoining mid-hill areas, with no heavy rainfall or snowfall anticipated.
Overall, weather activity is expected to remain subdued, with relatively stable conditions prevailing across most parts of the state over the next 10 to 15 days, the IMD said.
(With inputs from ANI)