Fresh Snowfall in Shinkula Pass, Himachal Pradesh; Light Snow Expected in Lahaul-Spiti and Rohtang

December 19, 2025

Shimla: Fresh snowfall was recorded last night at the Shinkula Pass in the Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. Light snow also fell in Rohtang. Shinkula recorded up to 2 centimetres of fresh snowfall. Tourists arriving in Manali from across the country are frolicking in the snow after reaching Shinkula.

According to the Meteorological Center, Shimla, a Western Disturbance is becoming active tonight. This could lead to light snowfall on the higher peaks of Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, and Kinnaur on December 20th and 21st. Light drizzle is expected in mid-altitude areas, while the plains will remain clear.

Shimla’s temperature rises sharply

Ahead of the rain and snowfall, Shimla and Kufri have seen a sharp rise in night temperatures. Shimla’s minimum temperature reached 12.2 degrees Celsius, 6.1 degrees above normal. Kufri’s temperature also reached 10.3 degrees Celsius. Normally, night temperatures in Shimla and Kufri hover around the freezing point during the third week of December.

Kalpa’s temperature is also 4.8 degrees above normal, and Manali’s is 4.4 degrees above normal. However, the plains are experiencing cold mornings, evenings, and nights, as fog has been lingering in the lower regions for the past month. This has made the nights in Kangra, Mandi, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Solan, and Sirmaur colder than Shimla.

Shimla to the cold plains nights

Sundernagar in Mandi recorded a minimum temperature of 2.7 degrees, Bhuntar 3.5 degrees, Manali 4.6 degrees, Kangra 5.7 degrees, Mandi 6.2 degrees, and Hamirpur recorded a minimum temperature of 4.9 degrees. According to the Meteorological Department, maximum temperatures in the state will remain above normal for the next week. Similarly, minimum temperatures will also be above normal in many areas of Shimla and Kullu.

Minimum temperature will be higher than normal

Over the next week, minimum temperatures will range from 2 to 10 degrees Celsius in the lower and plain areas, 0 to 8 degrees Celsius in the mid-mountain areas, and minus 8 to 2 degrees Celsius in higher altitudes. Parts of Kullu and Shimla will experience higher minimum temperatures.

Fog prevails in these districts

Fog enveloped parts of Mandi, Bilaspur, Kangra, Sirmaur, Solan, Hamirpur, and Una districts this morning. Visibility dropped to 50 meters in Bilaspur, particularly near the Bhakra Dam, while visibility in Mandi was down to 400 meters.