Shimla: Just days after Shimla witnessed its highest-ever maximum temperature, the weather took a massive turn a couple of days later, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an orange alert for snowfall in the Himachal Pradesh capital. The sudden change in weather also surprised tourists.
The city recorded a maximum temperature of 22 degrees Celsius on Friday, the highest recorded for January in Shimla. The previous highest temperature was 21.4 degrees Celsius, recorded on January 30, 2006. The city also recorded the second-highest minimum temperature at 11.5 degrees Celsius. Earlier, on January 24, 2009, the Met Office recorded the highest minimum temperature of 12.7 degrees Celsius.
IMD issues an orange alert for Shimla on Sunday
However, on Sunday, the weather department issued an ‘orange’ alert for snowfall and rainfall in parts of Shimla, Kinnaur, Lahaul, Spiti, Kangra, Chamba, Mandi, and Kullu districts. Speaking to the news agency PTI, the local Met Office said, “The highest maximum temperature recorded for January was on 03.01.2025 (22 degrees Celsius) in Shimla. The previous highest maximum temperature (21.4 degrees Celsius) was recorded on January 30, 2006.”
Notably, Manali, another popular hill station in the state, recorded the second-highest minimum temperature at 7.1 degrees Celsius. The all-time highest temperature recorded so far was 7.5 degrees on January 25, 2009.
Solan too recorded the highest maximum temperature
Apart from Shimla and Manali, Solan also recorded the highest maximum temperature in January. The maximum temperature in the district was recorded at 29 degrees Celsius, while the previous high was 27.5 degrees Celsius on January 26, 2007. Dharamshala, the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh rtoo recorded 21.7 degrees Celsius for the month of January.