Minimum temperature up in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh

Chandigarh/Shimla, Dec 19 (IANS) Tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh experienced fresh snowfall, while minimum temperature rose in Punjab, Haryana and mid-hills of Himachal due to cloudy skies Friday, officials in the meteorological office said.

'Tribal areas of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and Chamba experienced spells of snowfall since Thursday night,' the meteorological office in Shimla said.

Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district, which recorded minus 0.2 degrees celsius, received 15 cm snow till Friday afternoon, while Kalpa in Kinnaur district registered the night temperature at 3.5 degrees.

The Rohtang Pass, the gateway to Lahaul and Spiti district, the Dhauladhar in Kangra district and other lofty passes received moderate to heavy snowfall.

In Punjab, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala experienced mild rainfall.

'In Amritsar, the minimum temperature was 8.9 degrees celsius, five degrees above normal, while Ludhiana and Patiala recorded the minimum temperature at 15.2 degrees and 15.7 degrees,' the meteorological office of Chandigarh said.

The night temperatures also increased in Haryana with Narnaul recording 9 degrees, Ambala 14.7 degrees, Rohtak 15.3 degrees, Karnal 15.6 degrees and Hissar 17.1 degrees.

The minimum temperature also increased in the hill state.

Una recorded the minimum temperature at 4.9 degrees, while Shimla registered 10 degrees, six degrees above normal.

Chandigarh and its neighbouring areas remained cloudy throughout the day. The city recorded the minimum temperature at 14.4 degrees, eight degrees above normal.