Thunderstorm Warning Issued for 8 States in India Amid Heavy Rainfall
The severe weather alert has been issued for 8 states, including East Rajasthan, Gangetic West Bengal, and several other regions, with strong winds, hailstorms, and heavy rainfall expected. The IMD has advised residents to take precautions and avoid unnecessary travel, with a yellow alert in place for several areas in Delhi.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a severe weather alert for 8 states across India, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms, and heavy rainfall, with residents advised to take precautions and avoid unnecessary travel.
The alert covers East Rajasthan to Gangetic West Bengal, with strong winds and hailstorms expected in several states. The IMD has also flagged the likelihood of strong winds reaching 50-60 kmph in several regions, including Assam, Meghalaya, and Uttarakhand. Hailstorm warnings have been issued for isolated areas in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Uttarakhand.
Delhi is also expected to see a brief spell of rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds on Saturday evening, with a yellow alert in place for several areas. The city witnessed heavy rainfall, with 77mm of rain recorded in just six hours, the second-highest 24-hour rainfall in May since 1901. The minimum temperature on Saturday was 22.2°C, 2.5°C below the season's average.
The ongoing wet spell is attributed to the interplay of several weather systems, including western disturbances, upper air cyclonic circulation, and troughs. Western disturbances play a crucial role in non-monsoon precipitation over northern and north-west India during summers and winters, originating over the Mediterranean region and traveling eastwards over the Indian sub-continent.
The weather department forecasted light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, and lightning, with a maximum temperature expected to hover around 34°C. The city's air quality was in the 'moderate' category, with an Air Quality Index reading of 152. Residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid travel during the severe weather conditions.