Heavy snowfall, rain and hail to hit parts of India, IMD warns

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather warning for several parts of the country, as a cold wave and a western disturbance are expected to bring heavy snowfall, rain and hail in the coming days.

According to the IMD, parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh will continue to experience heavy snowfall and rain today, while Delhi will see a cloudy sky and light rain, which will lower the temperature by at least two degrees. The maximum and minimum temperatures in the national capital are likely to be around 26 and 12 degrees Celsius, respectively.

The western disturbance, a low-pressure system that originates from the Mediterranean Sea and brings moisture to the Indian subcontinent, will also affect the Western Himalayan region from Tuesday to Friday, causing moderate snowfall and rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds. Parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan may also witness hail storms during this period.

The IMD has also forecast light to moderate rainfall in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh until Thursday, while the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura will see snow and rain till Thursday. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura may also experience isolated heavy rainfall and snowfall on 21st and 22nd February, respectively.

The weather body has also warned of hailstorm activity at isolated places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim and Bihar on 21st February.

Meanwhile, Kerala and Rayalaseema will witness hot and humid weather on 20th and 21st February, with the highest maximum temperature of 38.2 degrees Celsius recorded in Anantapur city of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday.

From Saturday onwards, a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the Western Himalayan region and bring an intense spell of snowfall till February 26.

The IMD has advised people to take precautions and avoid unnecessary travel in the affected areas. It has also urged people to follow the COVID-19 guidelines and maintain social distancing while celebrating the festivals.

Keep Reading

Explained: How climate change has made flight air turbulence worse?

Study reveal intensifying tropical cyclone waves, what it means for future

Why did thousands of dead fish wash up on Texas beaches?

Follow Ground Report for Environmental News From India. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Koo App, Instagram, Whatsapp and YouTube. Write us on [email protected] and subscribe our free newsletter. 

Don’t forget to check out our climate glossary, it helps in learning difficult environmental terms in simple language.