Shimla: The intense cold wave conditions continued without any respite in Himachal Pradesh as minimum temperature stayed below normal and strong velocity icy winds swept the region.
The Met department has predicted light to moderate snowfall in high hills of the state from January 20 onwards while the mid and lower hills are likely to experience light to moderate rains accompanied by thundershowers from January 21 onwards.
The weather remained dry but the sky was partially overcast and a pale sun failed to warm up the region.
Arctic conditions persisted in high altitude tribal areas and mountain passes which reeled under minimum temperature staying between minus 16 and minus 23 degrees.
All natural sources of water remain frozen in the high altitude tribal areas for the past 10 weeks causing sharp fall in discharge of water in snowfed Sutlej, Ravi and Beas rivers.
The power generation in major hydropower projects has dropped substantially and the state is facing power shortage and purchasing electricity from neighbouring states to meet the winter requirements.
Thick ground frost occurred at many places in tribal areas and mid and higher hills causing freezing and bursting of water pipes and hampering vehicular traffic in the morning hours.
Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts recorded a low temperature of minus 12.4 degrees and minus 4.8 degrees while Manali recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.4 degrees followed by Bhuntar at minus 0.5 degrees and Sundernagar 0.5 degree, Chamba 1.1 degree, Hamirpur 1.3 degrees, Una 1.4 degrees, Solan 1.7 degrees, Shimla 2 degrees, Mandi 2.3 degrees, Bilaspur 3.1 degrees, Kangra 3.8 degrees, Dharamshala 4.6 degrees and Nahan 8.7 degrees Celsius.
There was no significant change in mercury and Una was hottest in the region with maximum temperature at 22.4 degrees followed by Sundernagar 21 degrees, Kangra 20.6 degrees, Solan 18.8 degrees, Bhuntar 17.4 degrees, Nahan 16.2 degrees, Shimla 13 degrees, Manali 10.6 degrees and Kalpa 5 degrees Celsius.
