Himachal Weather Update: Monsoon to reach by June 25; heavy rain alert for five districts today

June 18, 2026

Rain and snowfall continued in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday. The capital, Shimla, experienced heavy rainfall in the afternoon. Fresh snowfall around the Rohtang Pass blanketed the hills in white.

Snowflakes falling on the peaks of the CV range, along with Rohtang, caused a drop in temperature. Pre-monsoon rains occurred in several areas of the district, including Koksar, Sissu, Banjar, and Manali, while heavy rain lashed Raghupur Ghati. The weather remained clear throughout the day in Hamirpur, Una, Chamba, and Kangra, whereas Mandi remained cloudy.

The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has issued an ‘Orange Alert’ for five districts—Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla—for Thursday and Friday. These districts are likely to experience heavy rain, storms, lightning strikes, and hailstorms. Other districts are also forecast to experience inclement weather, including rain and thunderstorms.

Strong winds reaching speeds of 40 km/h may blow in some areas. According to the Meteorological Department, the weather is expected to remain unsettled across the state until June 23 due to the activity of a Western Disturbance. During this period, moderate to heavy rainfall, strong winds, and snowfall in high-altitude areas are likely.

24 Sheep Killed by Lightning
Patlikuhal: Twenty-four sheep died after being struck by lightning in the Garh area, adjacent to the Halan-2 Panchayat in the Ujhi Valley. Local resident Rajesh stated that the dead sheep belonged to five villagers. Kullu SP Madan Lal mentioned that the police have not yet received any formal complaint regarding the incident.

Monsoon Likely to Reach Himachal by June 25
According to the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, there is a strong possibility that the Southwest Monsoon will arrive in Himachal Pradesh by June 25. This estimate aligns closely with the normal date of monsoon arrival, raising expectations for above-normal rainfall in the state. Pre-monsoon showers have been occurring in various parts of the state for the past week, ahead of the main monsoon arrival.

Maximum temperatures: Neri 36.3, Sundernagar 35.1, Kangra 34.6, Barthin 34.5, Mandi 33.8, Bhuntar 33.6, Chamba 31.6, Nahan 31.2, Dharamshala 31.1, Solan 30.3, Manali 28.2, and Shimla 25.5 degrees Celsius.