New Delhi: Several parts of India are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall, accompanied with thunderstorms from 16 to 20 March, said the India Metrological Department on Thursday.
There is expected to be some isolated hailstorm activity as well over some of these states.
While isolated hailstorm activity has been predicted for Uttarakhand from 15th-19th March, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh on 17th March, and over north Rajasthan from 17th-19th March.
The IMD has also predicted an isolated hailstorm over Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana on 16th and 17th March.
“The cause of rainfall will occur due to the western disturbance lies over Afghanistan, and Neighbourhood in the middle tropospheric,” said the agency.
In South Peninsular India, the agency said a fairly widespread thunderstorm is expected over Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka.
Heavy rainfall and hailstorm are very likely over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana from March 16 to 19.
This spell of rain is likely to provide some relief from the heatwave that was predicted to return in the last week of March
The weather forecasters have predicted a drop in temperature by 2-4 degrees Celsius over North-West India, East India, and Central and West India in the subsequent three days.
It said that the Maximum temperature is likely to be in the range of 33-37 degree celsius during the next 5 day, which is nearly normal or below normal over most part of the country.
In addition, the weather department has also predicted rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds over Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan between 17th and 19th of March.
IMD also issues an advisory to the farmers of Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra to postpone their seasonal crop harvesting due to the changing weather conditions in the next five days.
The agency asked the farmer to use hail nets to protect apple, pear, plum, and peachorchards in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and orchards in Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada.
The IMD also said that the impact of the cyclonic circulation may damage plantations, horticulture, and standing crops. The hail may injure people and cattle in open places, and partial damage to vulnerable structures due to strong winds can be caused.
The advisory issued states that people should stay indoors, close windows and doors, and avoid all non-essential travel.
