Shimla, March 18 Rain lashed some parts of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, and the Lahaul and Spiti district received snowfall, even as the local meteorological office issued an orange warning, predicting heavy snowfall and thunderstorms in the state in the next two days.
The Shimla Met office has forecast heavy snowfall in the Lahaul and Spiti district on Thursday and Friday.
It said that heavy rain, snowfall, thunderstorms with lightning, hail, and gusty winds with speeds ranging from 40-60 kilometres per hour are likely at isolated places in five districts – Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla – in the next two days.
Predicting a wet spell in the state until March 24, the Met office said that light to moderate rain or snow is very likely at most places in the state on Thursday and Friday, while light rain and snow is likely at isolated places of the state from March 21 to 24.
Isolated places in the Lahaul and Spiti district received snowfall on Wednesday. Gondla in the district received 4 cm of snowfall, Kukumseri 3.6 cm, Keylong 3 cm, and Hans 2.5 cm.
A few parts of the state received rain. Manali recorded 14 mm of rain, followed by Dharamshala and Kangra, which recorded 2 mm each, and Shimla and Jubberhatti, which recorded 1 mm each.
Tabo was the coldest at night, recording a low of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius.
Nahan was the hottest during the day, with a high of 24 degrees Celsius.
During the pre-monsoon period from March 1 to 18, Himachal Pradesh received 31.4 mm of rain against the season's normal of 67.7 mm, resulting in a deficit of 54 per cent.