Tourists Rush to See Snow in Himachal; Cold Wave, Fog Intensify as 23 Cities Dip Below 5°C

January 6, 2026

Shimla: A long traffic jam occurred today between the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang, and Dhundi in Himachal Pradesh. Fresh snowfall occurred last evening and night between the Atal Tunnel and Solang Nala.

Tourist Rush Adds to Traffic Chaos

A large number of tourists arrived at the Atal Tunnel this morning to witness the snowfall. This resulted in a long traffic jam between Dhundi and the Atal Tunnel.

Manali police are working to restore normal vehicular traffic.

The Meteorological Department has forecast light snowfall on the higher peaks of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Chamba, and Kullu today as well. Following the snowfall in the high mountains, a cold wave and fog in the plains are causing a sharp drop in temperatures.

Temperatures dropped below 5 degrees in 23 cities.

For the first time this winter season, temperatures in 23 cities in the state have dropped to 5 degrees Celsius or below. Five cities have recorded minus 5 degrees Celsius, while 10 cities have recorded 2 degrees Celsius or below. The minimum temperature in Tabo in Lahaul-Spiti has dropped to minus 10.8 degrees Celsius. Kukumsari has recorded minus 7.1 degrees Celsius, Narkanda minus 2.0 degrees Celsius, Reckong Peo minus 0.5 degrees Celsius, and Kalpa minus 3.4 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures reached near freezing point in these cities as well.

The night temperature dropped to 2.5 degrees in Shimla, 1.3 in Sundernagar, 2.5 in Bhuntar, 2.2 in Dharamshala, 2.0 in Palampur, 0.2 in Solan, 0.1 in Kufri and 1.0 in Seobagh, reaching near the freezing point.

The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for dense fog in Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Mandi, Kangra, Solan, and Sirmaur for the next five days. The fog and a cold wave in higher elevations have contributed to the drop in temperatures.

Severe cold due to lack of good rain and snowfall

The Meteorological Department says that until there is significant rain and snowfall in the mountains, the state will remain under dry cold conditions. The concern is that there is no possibility of rain or snowfall for the next five days.

November and December have already been dry. Rainfall in November was 96 percent below normal, and in December, it was 99 percent below normal. Drought-like conditions are now persisting in January as well.