The southwest monsoon remained active over Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, bringing light to moderate rain to many areas. Some places also received heavy showers. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast widespread rainfall across the state till August 18.
Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Senior Scientist at IMD Himachal Pradesh, said many parts of the state received light to moderate rain in the past 24 hours. Dharamshala in Kangra district recorded heavy rainfall.
“Light to moderate rain was recorded in many parts of Himachal Pradesh during the past 24 hours. Dharamshala received heavy rain, while Kangra, Bilaspur, Mandi and Solan also witnessed showers, mainly during the evening and night,” Sharma said.
The highest rainfall recorded during the period was around 91 mm, he said, adding that rain continued in several parts of the state. Rainfall was reported from the early morning hours, especially in Bilaspur and Mandi. The two districts witnessed cloudy skies and spells of rain.
Sharma said many areas are likely to receive light to moderate rain on August 14. Isolated parts of some districts could get heavy to very heavy showers. Chamba, Mandi and Shimla may also see heavy rain at isolated places.
Rain is expected to continue on August 15, though its intensity may ease. A yellow alert has been issued for Bilaspur, Kangra and Mandi. Monsoon activity is likely to pick up again from August 16. Heavy rain is possible in Chamba, Kangra and Mandi. Rain will continue on August 17 and 18, with an orange alert issued for Kangra and Sirmaur on August 18. Very heavy rain is also possible at isolated locations.
Sharma said there is currently no fresh flash-flood warning. However, the risk could rise if rainfall becomes more intense, and an alert will be issued if required. He urged people to stay away from rivers, streams and other water bodies as water levels can rise quickly during heavy rain.
“With the monsoon remaining active, water levels in rivers, streams and other water sources may increase suddenly. People should avoid going near these areas,” Sharma said. He also warned commuters about reduced visibility and difficult road conditions in areas receiving heavy rainfall.
“Visibility could remain poor in parts of Sirmaur, Solan and Shimla. Heavy rain can make driving conditions difficult. As the wet spell is expected to continue for around four days, people planning long journeys should check road conditions before leaving,” Sharma said.
Despite the recent increase in rainfall, Himachal Pradesh has received 10 per cent less rain than normal during the monsoon season between June 1 and August 14. Kangra has recorded a deficit of around 50 per cent, followed by Mandi at about 27 per cent. Kullu and Shimla, meanwhile, have received around 25 per cent and 22 per cent more rainfall than normal, respectively. Most other districts are still facing a rainfall deficit. Sharma said temperatures could drop by around 2-4 degrees Celsius over the next 24 hours as rain continues.
Temperatures in Shimla and nearby areas have been around 24-25 degrees Celsius, while central districts such as Kangra and Bilaspur have recorded around 32 degrees Celsius. With rain continuing, temperatures are expected to fall by 2-4 degrees Celsius and could remain below normal in several areas.
The IMD has advised residents and tourists to keep track of weather alerts and avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rain. People have also been urged to exercise caution near rivers, streams, landslide-prone slopes and vulnerable stretches of road.
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