Himachal Weather: Alert for Storms-Hailstorm; Crop damage due to unseasonal snowfall and rain

April 9, 2026

Amidst a change in weather patterns in Himachal Pradesh, snowfall occurred on Wednesday in high-altitude residential areas—including Shikari Devi, the Rohtang Tunnel, Kufri, Dhauladhar, Narkanda, and Kotkhai, as well as across Upper Shimla, Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Kangra, Sirmour, Kinnaur, and Kullu. Heavy rainfall persisted in most districts, including the capital Shimla, from Tuesday evening through Wednesday afternoon. Shimla also witnessed heavy hailstorms late at night.

Due to the snowfall in April, several regions of the state including Shimla, have been left shivering in the cold. A drop of up to 12 degrees Celsius has been recorded in maximum temperatures, while minimum temperatures have also dipped 2.1 degrees below normal levels. Over the past 24 hours, the state recorded rainfall that was 853 percent higher than average. The rain and snowfall have led to the closure of 75 roads, including two National Highways (Ani-Kullu and Manali-Leh), and have disrupted operations at 884 power transformers.

Meanwhile, several areas in the Sirmour district experienced hailstorms accompanied by rain on Wednesday. In Chamba, an elderly man traveling to Nerchowk (Mandi) for medical treatment died of a cardiac arrest after the Kilad-Kullu road was blocked.

According to the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, Kufri received snowfall in April for the first time in two years; before this, the last instance of April snowfall occurred during the first week of the month in 2024. Due to the prevailing cold conditions, the weather in the state during April has taken on the characteristics of December. On the Manali-Keylong route, only 4×4 vehicles were permitted to proceed beyond Solang Nala, while other vehicles were halted. Tourists utilized 4×4 vehicles to reach the Atal Tunnel.

The high peaks of the Bharmour-Pangi region received snowfall ranging from 12.7 centimeters to one foot. Light snowfall was also recorded in the vicinity of Lakkarmandi, Tissa, and the Paulhani Mata Temple. In the Mandi district, the Seraj Valley remains blanketed in snow, even in April. Meanwhile, in the Kangra district, the spell of rainfall that began on Tuesday night continued throughout Wednesday. The intensity of the cold has increased due to snowfall on the Dhauladhar, Triund, and Himani Chamunda hills. Dense fog blanketed Dharamshala, forcing motorists to drive with their headlights on, even during the day.