Shimla records warmest January in six years

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"Shimla recorded an average high of 15.4 degrees Celsius in January this year, which was 3.8 degrees above average for this time of the year. This was the highest maximum temperature of the town in the past six years," Manmohan Singh, director of the Shimla meteorological office, told IANS.

He said even the night temperature was 1.9 degrees above the average of 3.3 degrees Celsius.

"The main reason for the unusually high temperature was due to weak western disturbances, resulting in below average rain and snowfall," he said.

According to him, the mean high temperature for Shimla from 2005 to 2009 was 10.3 degrees, 13.1 degrees, 13.5 degrees, 9.4 degrees and 14.4 degrees Celsius, whereas the night temperature for these years was 2.1 degrees, 5 degrees, 3.5 degrees, 1.5 degrees and 5.8 degrees Celsius.

Singh said the average day temperature in most of the towns of the hill state also remained on the higher side than the average in January.

Kalpa, a picturesque town some 250 km from state capital in Kinnaur district, saw an average high of 7.1 degrees Celsius, a high of 0.9 degrees than the average for this time of the year.

Likewise, Sundernagar in Mandi district saw the average day temperature at 21.3 degrees, while it was 18.9 degrees in Bhuntar in Kullu district and 19.4 degrees Celsius in Dharamsala.

The average day temperature in these towns for this time of the year was 17.6 degrees, 15.6 degrees and 16.2 degrees Celsius.

The state also experienced the coldest December in over 15 years this winter with the minimum temperature recording two to three degrees Celsius below average across the state, mainly due to the absence of western disturbances.

He said that due to the absence of western disturbances, nights were clear and that led to the emission of long wave radiations from the earth.

"The emissions of long wave radiations were more during nights due to which the night temperatures were 2-3 degrees Celsius below average during the entire month of December. Similarly, days were sunny and short wave radiations from the sun were more due to which the days were comparatively warm," Singh said.

He attributed the change in climatic conditions as a normal phenomenon.

"If such trends (frequent rise and fall in temperature) continue for some years consecutively, then it's a matter of concern," he added.