In the recent past, we have seen several places in the plains of North India witnessing below than the average temperatures in comparison to the hill stations of North India. It started with Pune, which observed temperatures below than Shimla which lasted for few days.
Yesterday also we saw the minimum temperature of Ooty being considerably low than Shimla. And today it is Mount Abu where minimum temperature was recorded at 5.4°C whereas Shimla is still considerable warmer with minimum temperature of 12.6°C.
Interestingly, such low temperatures are common for Mount Abu but such low temperatures during this time of the year are not common for Shimla. At present, Shimla is 7°C above normal minimum temperature.
The major factor that is allowing Mount Abu’s minimums to dip this low is the clear weather; such weather is allowing the Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) to escape the atmosphere more quickly. This makes the Earth’s surface cool down very quickly resulting minimums to fall this low.
But for Shimla the situation is very different. The continuous back to back Western Disturbance is not allowing the cool winds to come by the area. The clouding over Shimla is trapping the OLR, making the surface temperatures rise resulting increased minimum temperatures.
Another factor that makes the difference in minimums so vast is the elevation of both the hill stations. Mount Abu is at a height of 1220 meters. Whereas Shimla is at a height which is almost double its elevation, at 2270 meters above sea level. Shimla’s proximity to the Himalaya should bring chilly cold winds to the hill stations but that seems not to be the case.
The good news is that the first week of December packs in a lot of cold winds over Shimla as the western disturbance is expected to move away. This will allow the cold temperatures to settle in.
Please Note: Any information picked from here must be attributed to skymetweather.com
