Shimla, May 11
The weather in Himachal Pradesh has once again become unstable, with several parts of the state experiencing rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds over the past 24 hours. The Meteorological Center in Shimla has issued orange and yellow alerts for the coming days, warning of hailstorms and gusty winds in multiple districts.
Shimla remained cloudy throughout the morning with intermittent drizzle, while moderate rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning was recorded in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, and Mandi districts. Light rainfall was also reported from Shimla and Sirmaur.
According to the Meteorological Center in Shimla, scientist Sandeep Sharma, weather activity is expected to continue between May 11 and May 13, with many areas likely to experience light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms.
The weather department has issued an orange alert for Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts on May 11 and 12, forecasting hailstorms and strong winds in these areas. Sirmaur district has also been placed under orange alert for May 12 and 13, where weather conditions may intensify further.
The department said that while the intensity of the weather system may decrease slightly between May 14 and 16, light rain and strong winds are still likely in the mid- and higher-hill regions during the afternoon and evening hours.
Temperatures across Himachal Pradesh have also dipped, remaining 2 to 4 degrees Celsius below normal for this time of the year.
The weather department has advised residents to remain cautious during adverse weather and to avoid open spaces during lightning. Farmers and orchardists have also been urged to take preventive measures to protect crops from possible hail damage.
Rainfall data for May so far shows that nine districts in the state have received normal or above-normal rainfall, while Chamba, Kinnaur, and Lahaul-Spiti have recorded below-normal precipitation.
