The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for hailstorms in parts of Himachal Pradesh, warning of intensified weather activity due to an approaching western disturbance.
According to IMD officials, weather conditions remained largely clear across the state over the past 24 hours, but a significant shift is expected from Thursday evening.
Speaking to ANI, Senior Scientist Sandeep Kumar Sharma from the IMD’s Meteorological Centre in Shimla said a fresh western disturbance is likely to impact several districts, including Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Bilaspur and Shimla.
Light rainfall is expected to begin in isolated areas by evening, with activity intensifying overnight. The IMD has issued an orange alert for hailstorms in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Shimla, with the possibility of thunderstorms and lightning in these regions.
The weather system is expected to have a wider impact on April 17, when districts such as Una, Hamirpur and Bilaspur may also witness light to moderate rainfall along with thunderstorm activity. Plains and mid-hill districts have also been placed under an orange alert for thunderstorms and lightning.
The IMD said weather activity is likely to gradually ease after April 18, although cloudiness and light rainfall may persist in mid-hill districts. Another spell of rain is forecast between April 20 and 21, after which conditions are expected to clear.
Meanwhile, temperatures across the state have risen above normal. Maximum temperatures have increased by 1-2 degrees Celsius in the past 24 hours and are currently 2-3 degrees above normal. Kangra recorded around 30 degrees Celsius, while Shimla recorded about 24 degrees Celsius, with some districts touching nearly 32 degrees Celsius.
Despite the incoming weather system, temperatures are expected to rise further by 2-3 degrees Celsius in the next 24 hours, with no significant drop anticipated over the next two days.
The IMD also noted that Himachal Pradesh has received around 65 per cent excess rainfall so far this April, with most districts recording normal to above-normal precipitation. Previous western disturbance spells had already triggered hailstorms in parts of the state, and similar conditions may recur.
