After a prolonged dry spell, light rainfall and snowfall returned to the high reaches of Lahaul-Spiti and parts of Chamba on Saturday, signaling a marginal shift in weather conditions across Himachal Pradesh.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), dry weather largely prevailed in most parts of the state over the past 24 hours, though isolated light rain and snow were recorded in higher hill areas. The IMD has forecast similar conditions at isolated places in the high reaches on December 13 and 14, following which dry weather is expected to dominate across much of the state.
District-wise forecasts suggest an increased likelihood of snowfall in Lahaul-Spiti over the next 48 hours. Keylong is likely to see a 58 per cent chance of snowfall on December 13, which may decrease to 45 per cent on December 14 and rise slightly to 47 per cent on December 15. Udaipur is expected to experience snowfall probabilities ranging between 49 and 60 per cent during the same period.
In contrast, Kaza is likely to remain largely dry on December 13, with a moderate 37 per cent chance of snowfall on December 14, before clearing again. No weather warning has been issued for Lahaul-Spiti district, though temperatures in the high hills are expected to gradually fall by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, road connectivity in the tribal district continues to remain restricted due to seasonal closures. The Gramphu–Rohtang Pass stretch on NH-03 and the Gramphu–Batal section on NH-505 remain closed. The Darcha–Sarchu road has also been shut as per district administration orders, while the Lossar–Batal stretch on NH-505 remains inaccessible. However, the Sumdo–Lossar stretch is open, and the Darcha–Shinkula road is currently accessible only to 4×4 vehicles.
Authorities have advised commuters and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel in view of fluctuating weather conditions. The brief spell of rain and snow has brought cautious optimism among farmers and tourism stakeholders, as the state has endured nearly three months of dry weather. Officials, however, noted that sustained precipitation would be needed to significantly improve rabi sowing prospects and revive tourism in snow-dependent destinations ahead of the Christmas and New Year period.
