Shimla, Jan 17 (PTI) The cold wave sweeping most parts of Himachal Pradesh is likely to continue for the next four days while a western disturbance is likely to bring light rain and snow in the mid and higher hills.

The Met office here has predicted dense fog at isolated places in Una, Bilaspur, Kangra, Solan and Mandi till Monday. Thick ground frost is likely in Hamirpur, Una, Sirmaur and Bilaspur while thunderstorms and lightning may occur at isolated places in the plains, lower and mid hills on Thursday and Friday.

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Light rain and snow are likely in the mid and higher hills from Wednesday to Saturday. A fresh western disturbance is predicted to affect the western Himalayan region from Friday and the adjoining plains from Sunday, the Met office said.

People in most parts of the state reeled under severe coldwave conditions as night temperatures remained 2 to 4 degrees below normal. The mercury was 12 to 16 degrees below freezing point in the high-altitude tribal areas, higher hills and the mountain passes and hovered around freezing point at most places in the plains and the mid hills.

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Keylong and Kusumseri in Lahaul and Spiti district recorded lows of minus 11.0 degrees and minus 7.2 degrees Celsius, respectively, while Kalpa in Kinnaur district shivered at minus 4.6 degrees.

The minimum temperatures in Manali and Reckongpeo were at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius and minus 1.9 degrees, 0.1 degrees each in Sundernagar and Bhuntar. Una, Shimla, Hamirpur and Solan recorded night temperatures of 0.4 degrees Celsius, 0.6 degrees, 0.8 degrees and 1.8 degrees.

The state received an average rainfall of 16.5 mm from January 1 to 17 against a normal of 40.2 mm, a deficit of 40.2 per cent. All twelve districts are in a deficit ranging between 25 and 79 per cent, according to the weather office.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)