Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 18
The weather remained dry in Himachal in the past 48 hours due to subdued monsoons, but the local MeT office today issued a yellow warning of thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rain at isolated places in middle and lower hills of the state from August 19 to 21.
The Met office also predicted thunderstorms and rain in lower and mid hills from August 19 to 24 and rain and snow at isolated places in higher hills August 20 onwards.
As many as 288 persons have lost their lives in rain-related incidents in the current monsoon season since June 13 and 20 roads are still closed.
The region received 434.2 mm of average rainfall during the current monsoon season from June 1 to August 18 against a normal rainfall
of 547.1 mm, a deficit
of 21 per cent.
Kullu was the only district to record 24 per cent excess rainfall.
Lahaul and Spiti and Chamba districts received 65 per cent and 46 per cent less rainfall, respectively, while Kangra and Mandi districts received 10 per cent deficit rain, followed by Shimla 15 per cent, Bilaspur and Solan 21 per cent, Una 22 per cent, Kinnaur 23 per cent and Sirmaur 26 per cent.
Meanwhile, the minimum temperatures dropped by a few notches and Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur recorded a low of 9.5deg;C and 11.1deg;C, respectively, followed by Manali 13.8deg;C, Kufri 16deg;C and Shimla 16.2deg;C.
However, the maximum temperatures rose by one to two degrees in mid and lower hills and Una was the hottest at 36.4deg;C, four degrees above normal, followed by Bilaspur 35deg;C and Bhuntar and Sundernagar 33.7deg;C each.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service