A prolonged dry spell in Himachal Pradesh came to an end after nearly three months, bringing widespread weather changes across the state.
Fresh snowfall and rain returned to Shimla, Manali and large parts
of Himachal Pradesh on Friday morning, lifting spirits across the hill state and bringing much-needed relief to apple growers, farmers, tourism stakeholders, and the fragile mountain ecosystem.
The weather changed around 4 AM, and then rain and snowfall began. Snowfall was also witnessed in Narkanda. Stormy conditions and intermittent rain are prevailing in several districts, including Mandi and Bilaspur.
#WATCH | Himachal Pradesh | Thick layer of snow deposits on vehicles following a spell of fresh snowfall in Shimla
Visuals from the Sanjauli area pic.twitter.com/tJx2t5FHtB
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2026
However, the weather is clear in Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district. Notably, gardeners and farmers are very happy with the snowfall in Kufri, Theog, and Narkanda near Shimla.
The snowfall has brought the most joy to Shimla and Manali, where light snowfall occurred for the first time this winter season. Snow also fell on Mall Road in Manali, and tourists flocked there early in the morning to enjoy the spectacle.
Shimla city was also covered in a blanket of snow. While residents welcomed the rain and snowfall after a long dry spell, the sudden change in weather led to power outages in several parts of the state, including Shimla and Manali.
The Meteorological Department’s Shimla centre said rain and snowfall are likely to continue across the state throughout Friday. The prolonged dry spell is expected to end by the morning of January 24, though another spell of rain and snowfall is forecast for January 26.
