Abnormally dry warm Himachal winter

Shimla : During the Winter season-2018 (1st January- 28th February), cumulative rainfall received over the state was 55 mm which is 72 per cent deficient from Long Period Average Normal Rainfall, the weather office said Wednesday

In January and February, total cumulative rainfall received over the state was 9.2mm and 46 mm respectively, which was deficient by (minus 91 per cent & minus 53 per cent ) from Normal values.

Rainfall during this winter season was below normal in all the districts of the state. Rainfall was most deficient in the districts of Kinnaur-38.6mm (-82%) and Lahaul & Spiti – 51.8mm (-81%) respectively.

Cumulative Rainfall during the season in the districts of Chamba- 75.3mm & Shimla- 44.2mm was deficient with a deficit of 68 per cent from their normal values.

Average Minimum Temperatures over the Mid Hills and High Hills of the state were above normal. Over the Low Hills areas and Plains of the state, Average Minimum Temperatures were normal or below normal.

During this winter season, average minimum temperature of Shimla in January was 4.7deg C which was 2.1deg C more than more than normal and in February it was 5.5 deg C which was 1.9deg C more than normal.

In Kalpa in Jan was -2.2deg C which was 1.7 deg C more than more than normal and in the month of February it was -0.8 deg C which was 1.1deg C more than normal.

However, average minimum temperature of Una in Jan was 3.8deg C which was 0.4deg C less than more than normal and in the month of February it was 7.9 deg C which was 0.9deg C more than normal.