New Delhi/Mumbai: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted active and unsettled weather conditions across multiple regions of the country on March 20, with widespread to scattered rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms, and strong gusty winds likely to persist through March 21 in many areas.
According to the IMD’s latest all-India weather summary and alerts, fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is expected over Northeast India for the next five days, with isolated heavy falls possible in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and the Nagaland-Manipur-Mizoram-Tripura region, especially early in the period.
In Maharashtra, unseasonal rain is forecast for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and several other districts following prolonged heat. The IMD anticipates partly cloudy skies with light showers, thunderstorms, and lightning activity through March 20, providing relief from scorching temperatures. Alerts have been issued for continued thunderstorm activity in parts of Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada.
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Kolkata and much of West Bengal face widespread thunderstorm activity on March 20 and 21, driven by strong moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal. Rain and thunderstorms with strong gusty winds are likely in Kolkata, while hailstorms may occur in western districts such as Bankura, Purulia, and Paschim Bardhaman on March 20, shifting to Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri in the north on March 21. Activity could extend lightly to March 23 in some parts.
Jammu and Kashmir, along with Ladakh, is bracing for isolated heavy rainfall/snowfall, thunderstorms with lightning, and gusty winds on March 20, with gradual easing by March 21. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand may see heavy rainfall/snowfall at isolated spots, with possible thundersqualls.
Indore and districts in Indore and Ujjain divisions in Madhya Pradesh are likely to experience thunderstorms with winds of 30-40 kmph, and isolated hailstorms in northern and southeastern areas, under a yellow alert.
In Patna and Bihar, the IMD forecasts partly cloudy skies with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers on March 20, continuing similarly on March 21.
Delhi-NCR remains under a yellow alert for rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds on March 20. Other regions, including Punjab, Haryana, parts of Uttar Pradesh, East Rajasthan, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal, face scattered to fairly widespread rain with thunderstorms, gusty winds (often 40-60 kmph), and isolated hail or squalls.
The IMD attributes much of this activity to western disturbances and associated systems, urging residents in affected areas to stay cautious, secure loose objects, and monitor updates for safety.