Unprecedented Temperature Drop in Shimla: Hottest April Night in Decades
Significant Temperature Decline in Shimla
In the past 24 hours, Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, has experienced an unusual and sharp drop in temperature, plummeting to a low of 3.6 degrees Celsius. This marks the coldest April night in nearly 46 years for the city. Data from the Shimla Meteorological Center indicates that this weather pattern deviates significantly from the norm. The last time temperatures fell this low in April was in 1979, when the mercury dipped to around 3.4 degrees Celsius.
Impact of Recent Weather Patterns
According to Shobhit Katiyar, head of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in Himachal Pradesh, the sudden chill is a result of continuous rainfall and snowfall in the region over the past few days. He noted that the maximum temperature recorded in Shimla was 11.4 degrees Celsius, the lowest for April in about 11 to 12 years. Such conditions were last observed around 2015.
Unusual Weather Trends
Katiyar emphasized that the rapid decline in minimum temperatures this April is unprecedented in over four decades, highlighting the unusual nature of the current weather. The persistent influence of western disturbances has led to widespread rainfall across the state, particularly in higher altitude areas. In recent days, daytime temperatures in several regions have dropped by 10 to 12 degrees Celsius. Rainfall has also exceeded seasonal averages, with 149 mm recorded in Himachal Pradesh from March 1 to April 10, compared to a normal of 136 mm, marking an increase of nearly 9 percent. In April alone, rainfall levels have been 142 percent above normal, although officials clarified that this should not be classified as a record-breaking event.
Snowfall in Higher Regions
It is not unusual for higher areas such as Lahaul, Kullu, Chamba, and Kinnaur to experience snowfall in April. Even within the Shimla district, places like Khadrala have seen snowfall in previous years, including 2014, 2016, 2020, and 2021. In the last 24 hours, temperatures in elevated regions have dropped to minus 1 degree Celsius, while many parts of the state, including Shimla, recorded temperatures 4 to 5 degrees below normal.