IMD Issues Nationwide Weather Alert: Thunderstorms, Hailstorms, And Gusty Winds Expected Across India
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a nationwide weather alert, warning of widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across several regions of the country over the coming days. The agency’s latest update flagged heightened weather activity across eastern, central, and northeastern India, with alerts for heavy rainfall, thundersqualls, and possible hailstorms.
Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are projected to receive widespread rainfall between March 21 and 24, with isolated pockets likely to record heavy to very heavy rainfall on March 21. Parts of Gangetic West Bengal may see thundersqualls with wind speeds touching 80 kmph, while Odisha faces the possibility of gusty winds up to 70 kmph and hailstorms, the IMD said.
Northeastern and Northwest Regions Also on Alert
Northeastern states including Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura are expected to witness fairly widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds. Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh may receive isolated heavy rainfall on March 24. In eastern and central India spanning Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh scattered rainfall and strong winds are forecast over the next several days.
Northwest India is set to experience a fresh spell of wet weather, with light to moderate rain and snowfall anticipated in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on March 23. East Uttar Pradesh may also see fairly widespread rainfall, with winds likely reaching up to 40 kmph.
IMD Scientist Akhil Shrivastava, speaking to news agency ANI, said large-scale thunderstorm activity was currently being witnessed across the country. “In Delhi, rainfall activity occurred yesterday, resulting in a significant drop in maximum temperatures. Our forecast indicates that similar intermittent rainfall activity is likely to occur during the evening hours today. However, this activity is expected to subside in Delhi starting tomorrow, with the probability of rain decreasing from tomorrow onwards,” he said.
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Shrivastava added that while conditions remain mainly cloudy on Saturday, they are expected to turn partly cloudy the following day. “Compared to yesterday, a slight further decline of about 2-3°C may be observed in maximum temperatures today. Nevertheless, temperatures are expected to begin rising again after tomorrow,” he said.
The IMD scientist also confirmed that an Orange Alert had been issued for eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and parts of West Bengal owing to the threat of thunderstorms, gusty winds, and hailstorms. “Wind speeds in eastern India may reach 60 to 70 kmph, posing potential risks,” Shrivastava warned.
In the south, scattered rainfall is likely across several states and parts of Maharashtra, though hot and humid conditions are expected to persist along coastal Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala.