Himachal October 11, 2026 8 min

Manali Weather 12–16 October 2026: Fresh Snow at Rohtang

Fresh snow fell on Rohtang, Shinku La, Kunzum and Baralacha on 10–11 October 2026. IMD Shimla forecasts more rain and high-altitude snow until about 16 October, with thunderstorm warnings for Kullu on 13–14 October.

Suzu Travels

Travel Expert at Suzu Travels

Short answer: Manali’s weather has turned wintry this week. Fresh snow fell on Rohtang Pass, Shinku La, Kunzum and Baralacha La on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October 2026, and rain in Manali town brought the night-time low down to about 9–10°C. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) centre in Shimla expects more of the same until about 16 October: light to moderate rain or snow at a few places on 12–13 October, more widespread rain on 14–15 October with fresh snow in the higher reaches, and thunderstorm warnings for Kullu district on 13 and 14 October. The Darcha–Shinku La road has been closed to two-wheelers because of snow. Manali town itself is getting rain, not snow.

This update was written in the early hours of Monday, 12 October 2026, using the IMD Shimla bulletins issued on 8, 10 and 11 October and Himachal newspaper reports from 10–11 October. Weather in the Kullu valley changes quickly, so check the latest bulletin before you drive anywhere above Manali.

What happened over the weekend (10–11 October 2026)

A western disturbance has been moving over Himachal since late in the week. According to Amar Ujala’s Shimla desk (11 October), the high peaks around Rohtang, Kunzum, Baralacha and Shinku La got snow on Saturday 10 October, while Manali and the Ujhi valley got rain that afternoon. On Sunday 11 October, intermittent snow fell again on Rohtang and Shinku La in the afternoon, and Shimla had rain from the morning onwards.

Road impact: the Darcha–Shinku La route (Lahaul to Zanskar) was closed to two-wheelers because of the snowfall. Debris also blocked the Larji–Sainj road at Pagalnala for several hours on 11 October.
Hail: hail was reported at Sarahan (Shimla district) and Palampur, and at Kachrang in the Nichar area of Kinnaur.
Rain: in the 24 hours to Sunday morning, Sarahan recorded 30.1 mm, the highest in the state. Palampur had 6.0 mm, Sundernagar 5.6 mm and Manali 1.0 mm.

This is the second spell of high-pass snow this autumn. The first came in late September, when The Tribune (18 September 2026) reported about four inches of snow on Rohtang. Snow on the passes in October is normal and does not mean Manali town will see snow. Town snowfall usually comes much later in winter.

How cold is it? Recorded temperatures

These are the minimum (night-time) temperatures recorded by IMD stations on the morning of Sunday, 11 October 2026, as reported by Himachal Dastak. We have checked the Manali, Shimla and Kufri figures against the previous day’s readings in Amar Ujala and ETV Bharat.

Station	Min temp, 11 Oct	What it means for you
Kukumseri (Lahaul)	1.8°C	Coldest in the state; near freezing beyond Atal Tunnel
Tabo (Spiti)	3.4°C	Spiti nights are now properly cold
Kalpa (Kinnaur)	6.0°C	Heavy jacket for evenings
Kufri	8.3°C	Chilly mornings above Shimla
Manali	10.1°C (9.4°C on 10 Oct)	Fleece plus a light down jacket at night
Shimla	12.5°C	Sweater weather, wet underfoot

For daytime, ETV Bharat’s 10 October report of IMD data gave Manali a maximum of 20.8°C and Shimla 19.2°C. IMD expects daytime highs to fall by another 4–5°C over the next 24 hours, then rise again by 2–4°C over the following two or three days. Night-time lows are expected to fall by 2–3°C first and then recover. For Manali that means grey, cool days in the low to mid-teens on Monday and Tuesday, and something closer to normal by the end of the week.

Manali weather forecast, 12–16 October 2026

This day-by-day outlook combines the IMD Shimla forecast in its 11 October bulletin (as reported by Amar Ujala and The News Himachal) with IMD’s district warning bulletin issued at 12:00 IST on 10 October.

Monday 12 October: light to moderate rain or snow at a few places across the state. Manali can expect showers on and off; the passes may get more snow.
Tuesday 13 October: light to moderate rain or snow at a few places. IMD has warned of thunderstorms with lightning at isolated places in Kullu, Chamba, Kangra and Mandi. Amar Ujala reports a yellow alert for gusty winds on 13–14 October.
Wednesday 14 October: rain at many places, with fresh snow possible in the higher reaches. There is a thunderstorm and lightning warning for Kullu, Chamba, Kangra and Sirmaur. This looks like the wettest day of the week.
Thursday 15 October: rain at many places, with snow in the higher hills. Thunderstorms are possible in some districts.
Friday 16 October and the weekend: light rain or snow at isolated places only. IMD’s extended-range forecast (issued 8 October) expects only light precipitation over the high hills on some days during 16–22 October, with normal rainfall overall.

IMD has not issued any district warning for Lahaul-Spiti or Kinnaur for this spell, but rain or snow in their high areas is still possible. For Lahaul-Spiti, the extended-range forecast says night temperatures are likely to stay markedly below normal in parts of the district through 22 October.

What this means for your trip

If you are in Manali or arriving this week

Keep the high-pass day flexible. If Rohtang or a drive through Atal Tunnel to Sissu is on your plan, do it on Monday or wait until Friday. Avoid Wednesday and Thursday, when IMD expects the most rain and snow. Snow on the pass is the reason people go, but fresh snow can also stop traffic at short notice.
Rohtang still needs a permit. Tourist vehicles going up to Rohtang need an online permit from the Tourism Development Council’s portal, with a daily cap on vehicles. Our Rohtang permit and Himachal road status guide explains how the system works. We are not giving a live open/closed status here because it can change within hours. Check the permit portal and the Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti district administration updates on the morning you travel.
Atal Tunnel and Sissu are the easier snow option when Rohtang is shut or the permit quota has run out. See our Atal Tunnel and Sissu snow trip page for how that day usually works.
Two-wheeler riders heading to Zanskar: the Darcha–Shinku La road has been closed to bikes. Do not plan a Shinku La crossing this week without a confirmed update from the Lahaul-Spiti administration.

If you are planning for later in October

Kullu Dussehra (21–27 October) looks like it will get better weather. IMD’s extended outlook expects only isolated light precipitation in the high hills during 16–22 October and normal rainfall for 23–29 October. Our Kullu Dussehra 2026 guide has the dates and stay advice.
Snow on the passes means the colder half of the season has begun. From now on, every high-altitude plan needs a backup day and warm layers, even if Manali town feels mild at noon.
For a straightforward Shimla–Manali trip with a buffer day built in, see our Shimla Manali tour package. Our drivers pick the snow day based on the morning’s bulletin, not a date fixed weeks earlier.

What to pack this week

A waterproof outer layer. This week brings more rain than snow in the valley.
A fleece or light down jacket for evenings, when Manali is at around 9–10°C.
Gloves, a cap and proper shoes with grip if you are going above 3,000 m.
Motion-sickness medicine and a full tank of fuel for long hill drives that may be held up by debris.

Safety notes

Thunderstorms are possible in Kullu on 13 and 14 October, so follow IMD’s standard lightning advice. Do not shelter under trees, keep away from exposed ridges in the afternoon, and stay inside a closed vehicle if you are caught in a storm on the road. Debris on hill roads after heavy rain is common. Do not drive past a stretch the police or PWD have closed, and allow extra time for routes like Larji–Sainj that have already had debris this week.

Frequently asked questions

Is it snowing in Manali right now?

Not in Manali town. As of 11 October 2026, snow has fallen on the high passes and peaks above Manali, including Rohtang (3,978 m), Shinku La, Kunzum and Baralacha La. Manali town (about 2,050 m) has had rain. More snow is forecast for the higher reaches on 14–15 October.

Is Rohtang Pass open this week?

We are not publishing a live status, because it can change from one morning to the next after snow. Rohtang is controlled by a permit system with a daily vehicle cap. Check the permit portal and the Kullu district administration on the day. If the pass is shut, Atal Tunnel and Sissu are the usual alternative.

What is the temperature in Manali in mid-October 2026?

IMD readings put Manali’s night-time low at 9.4°C on 10 October and 10.1°C on 11 October, with a daytime high of about 20.8°C before the rain. IMD expects daytime highs to fall by 4–5°C during the wet spell before recovering later in the week.

Is this a good week to visit Manali?

Yes, if you can be flexible. Monday and the end of the week look better than 14–15 October, which IMD expects to be the wettest days. If your dates are fixed, keep the high-altitude day movable and spend the wet days around Old Manali, Vashisht, Naggar and the Kullu valley.

Will it be dry for Kullu Dussehra?

IMD’s extended-range forecast issued on 8 October 2026 expects normal rainfall and only isolated light precipitation over the high hills during 16–22 October, and normal rainfall during 23–29 October. That is a good sign for the festival week, but check again closer to the date.

Planning a Manali or Lahaul trip this month? Our Manali team can move your snow day around the weather and check road conditions each morning before you leave. Call or WhatsApp 7087488961.