Mercury stays above normal, but rain relief in Shimla, Kangra, Kullu

Shimla: Light to moderate rainfall was recorded in parts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla and Lahaul-Spiti districts on Tuesday, even as temperatures remained above normal across most parts of Himachal Pradesh.According to the Meteorological Centre, Shimla, Una was the hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 43.4°C, 4.5 degrees above normal.Sundernagar recorded a maximum temperature of 38.6°C, followed by Kangra at 38.4°C, Mandi at 37.2°C and Dharamshala at 35.1°C.Bhuntar in Kullu district recorded a high of 35.5°C, while Shimla recorded 29.4°C, 4.4 degrees above normal. Chamba recorded a maximum temperature of 34.4°C, 3.4 degrees below normal, while Manali recorded 28.5°C.Keylong in tribal Lahaul-Spiti recorded a maximum temperature of 21.8°C, while Kalpa in Kinnaur settled at 26°C.Minimum temperatures also remained above normal at most places. Shimla recorded a minimum temperature of 20.4°C, 4.9 degrees above normal, while Manali recorded 13.8°C, 4.2 degrees above normal. Bhuntar recorded 17°C, 3.7 degrees above normal, and Mandi recorded 21.1°C, 3 degrees above normal. Kukumseri remained the coldest place in the state at 6.1°C.According to the Meteorological Centre, the state received 36.3 mm rainfall between May 1 and May 19 against the normal of 40.7 mm, registering an overall deficit of 11%.Shimla recorded the highest rainfall at 77.1 mm, 68% above normal, followed by Mandi with 56.2 mm against the normal of 40.9 mm and Kangra with 55 mm against the normal of 33.7 mm.However, districts such as Chamba remained rain-deficient, recording 33.4 mm rainfall against the normal of 60.2 mm, while Lahaul-Spiti received 11.8 mm rainfall against the normal of 40.2 mm.The weather department has predicted light rain and snowfall in parts of the state till May 25.