Rain likely in NW India till March 24, followed by drop in max temperature

In the week between March 24 to 31, due to absence of any active Western Disturbance, rainfall activity is likely to be below normal over northern parts of the country, IMD said in its two-week forecast

Widespread rain and thunderstorms are expected over the western Himalayan region and over the plains of northwest India between March 21 and 24 due to an intense Western Disturbance, according to India Meteorological Department.

Representational Image.

Maximum temperatures are likely to fall from the range of 33-38 degrees C (°C) to 31-32°C over northwest India during the period. Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 35.3°C, 5°C above normal on Thursday and the minimum temperature on Friday was 19.4°C, 3°C above normal.

“We are expecting an intense Western Disturbance so there is likely to be widespread rains over northwest India. In Delhi, it is likely to rain from March 21 night or March 22 early morning. There may be light rain or drizzle on March 23 also. Till March 27, temperatures are likely to remain relatively low and pleasant. There is likely to be heavy rain and hailstorm in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir during the period. There is likely to be rain and thunderstorms over Punjab and Haryana also,” said Kuldeep Shrivastava, head, regional weather forecasting centre.

Isolated heavy rainfall or snowfall is also likely over Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan, Muzaffarabad and Himachal Pradesh on March 22 and 23. Hailstorm is likely over Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan, Muzaffarabad and Himachal Pradesh on March 21; over Uttarakhand on March 22 and 23; over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Rajasthan on March 22.

A trough (area of low pressure) in westerlies runs from southwest Rajasthan to northeast Arabian Sea across Saurashtra and Kutch. There are two cyclonic circulations, one over southeast Rajasthan and its neighbourhood and another over Vidarbha and its neighbourhood. Under the influence of these systems, scattered rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds (speed reaching 30-40 kmph) is very likely over Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathawada and Vidarbha during the next three days.

Hailstorm is also likely over Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha on March 19 and over Marathwada on March 19 and 20.

But in the week between March 24 to 31, due to absence of any active Western Disturbance, rainfall activity is likely to be below normal over northern parts of the country, IMD said in its two-week forecast. The maximum temperatures are in the range of 34-38°C over central and north Peninsular India. Maximum temperatures are above normal by 4-6°C over Saurashtra and Kutch and by 2-4°C over most parts of northwest and adjoining central India presently.