Christmas Snow In Shimla, Excitement Begins

Christmas and new year snowfall at popular resorts of northern hills continue to be of prime attraction for the enthusiasts. News of likely snow, even a fleeting one, attracts hundreds of additional footfalls for ‘in demand’ mountainous destinations. Srinagar, Manali, Shimla and Mussorie remain the most popular locations, for being within reach of few hours of Journey from the plains of North India. Srinagar is the best promising and Shimla, the most elusive destination around this time of the year.

Shimla witnessed Christmas snowfall, last in 2016, after a gap of 25 years. Pre-Christmas snow has been observed in 2014, 2015 and  last on 12Dec 2018.  Shimla also is the last to record freezing mercury level. This year, that jinx is broken with sub-zero temperature recording for 3 consecutive days on 16^th, 17^th and 18^thDecember.  Chances get brightened to commemorate this infrequent fete around Christmas, with a margin error of 1day.

In quick succession, 2 western disturbances will pass across the hilly states of North India between 23^rdand 26^thDec, the latter being more stronger than the former. As a prelude to the expected snowfall around Christmas, cloudy sky with light rainfall is expected over and around Shimla on 24^thDec. ‘Hit and Miss’ conditions are likely to prevail for the 1^st snowfall of the season on 25^thDec, with more probability for rain than snow, on the night  of Christmas.  Meteorological conditions continue to build and become stronger the next day, 26^thDecember, to witness 1^st snowfall of the season over the erstwhile summer capital of British India.

Though, a bit early to commit, fair chances for festive snow for Shimla on 26^th and 27^thDec. The remnant effect may extend to 28^thDec with few spells of rain and thundershower. The capital city of Himachal Pradesh with an elevation of over 7000’ will witness improved weather conditions from 30^thDec onward. The famous sister locations of Kufri, about 20km away at a height of 9000’ and Narkanda, at a distance of 60km with nearly same elevation, always remain more favorite for witnessing snowfall with certainty around this time. New year eve is likely to be bone chilling, with fierce cold wave, minus any snowfall.’ Keep fingers crossed -Happy Snowing’.