Severe Weather Batters Himachal: Dark Skies, Rain, Hailstorms Disrupt Daily Life

Shimla, May 21:
Weather conditions took a sharp and sudden turn across Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday afternoon, bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, and hailstorms to several parts of the state. In Shimla and nearby areas, daylight gave way to near-darkness as storms rolled in, forcing vehicles to turn on their headlights even during the day. While the rain provided some respite from the heat in the plains, the intense winds and power outages disrupted normal life across the region.

Thunderstorms and intermittent showers were reported throughout the day in Shimla, Solan, Mandi, Kangra, and other districts. The Meteorological Department has issued warnings for worsening weather over the coming days, predicting more rain, lightning, hail, and storms between May 23 and 25.

Yellow and Orange Alerts Issued for Several Districts

According to the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, a yellow alert has been issued for May 23 in the districts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla, with winds expected to reach speeds of up to 40 km/h along with thunder and lightning.

Conditions are expected to intensify on May 24 and 25, prompting an orange alert for Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, and Una, where storms with wind speeds up to 60 km/h, lightning, and hail are anticipated. A yellow alert has also been issued for Chamba, Solan, Sirmaur, Kinnaur, and Lahaul-Spiti, with wind gusts reaching up to 50 km/h.

Storm Turns Day into Night

The sudden weather shift led to widespread power outages, plunging homes and markets into darkness. In many areas, the stormy skies and reduced visibility forced motorists to use headlights in the middle of the day. Locals described the conditions as eerie, with fierce winds and rain transforming the landscape in a matter of minutes. Shimla and its surrounding areas also saw a notable drop in temperatures, bringing a temporary chill. Though the rainfall brought relief from the heat in low-lying regions, the disruption caused by the storm and power cuts created further challenges.

High Winds and Rainfall Reported

According to the Meteorological Department, Kufri, a popular tourist spot near Shimla, recorded wind speeds of 96 km/h, while Shimla city experienced gusts of 59 km/h and Neri saw winds up to 48 km/h.

Rainfall over the past 24 hours included:

• Palampur – 24 mm

• Raipur – 20 mm

• Jogindernagar & Sujanpur Tira – 8 mm each

• Baijnath – 7 mm

• BBMB – 5 mm

• Brahmani – 4 mm

• Olindra – 3 mm

Temperatures Dip; Una Remains Hottest

The maximum temperature in Shimla dropped by 1.2°C, settling at 26.4°C. Temperatures in other areas included:

• Sundernagar – 37°C

• Bhuntar – 34.4°C

• Kalpa – 24°C

• Dharamshala – 33°C

• Nahan – 33.3°C

• Keylong – 20.8°C

• Solan – 32°C

• Manali – 27.6°C

• Kangra – 37°C

• Mandi – 35°C

• Bilaspur – 38.7°C

• Hamirpur – 38°C

• Chamba – 32.3°C

• Dalhousie – 25.5°C

• Jubbarhatti – 30.6°C

• Kufri – 20.7°C

Una was the hottest district, recording a maximum temperature of 41°C.

Authorities Urge Caution

The Meteorological Department has urged the public to remain alert and avoid unnecessary travel during adverse weather. People are advised to stay away from open fields, electrical poles, and tall trees to avoid potential hazards from lightning and strong winds.