Punjab Rain Alert: IMD forecasts heavy rainfall along with hailstorms across India in these states
The IMD has also predicted light to moderated rainfall and thunderstorms over northwest India for the next two days.
Punjab Rain Alert: After more than a decade of sweltering heat, Punjab is experiencing its coldest May in 12 years. The minimum temperature has dropped by 1.8 degrees Celsius in many parts of the state, which is 11.2 degrees below normal.
In major cities like Bathinda, Amritsar, Patiala, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar, the maximum temperature ranged between 24.8 to 29.6 degrees. The Meteorological Department has attributed the drop in temperature to the continuous western disturbances. Starting May 5, a new disturbance is expected to cause light to moderate rain in some parts of Punjab, which will bring respite from the heat until May 8.
The department has issued a yellow alert until May 6, and some places may receive gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph. The temperature is expected to rise after the disturbance, but Punjab is expected to experience a cooler summer than usual this year.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy rain and hailstorms are expected to continue in several states including northern India, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and the western Himalayan region till Thursday.
The IMD has also predicted light to moderated rainfall and thunderstorms over northwest India for the next two days. Moreover, significant rainfall and snowfall are expected in the western Himalayan region, while sporadic to isolated rainfall may occur over the plains of northwest India.
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Arunachal Pradesh and Assam are expected to receive heavy rainfall until May 5. Thunderstorms and strong winds have also been forecasted for several states until today, after which a reduction is expected. The ongoing rain has led to a decrease in temperatures in various states by several degrees below normal.
In the national capital, Delhi, the maximum temperature was recorded at 26.1 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, which is 13 degrees below the average temperature for this time of the year, marking the second coolest day of May in 13 years. This was the third day in a row when the maximum temperature settled at 10 degrees below normal during the summer season, which generally witnesses high temperatures in the month.
The IMD attributed the heavy rainfall across the country to a western disturbance, and forecasted that temperatures across India will remain below to near normal for the next two days. The IMD further stated that no parts of India will experience heatwave conditions.