India is set to experience a wide range of weather conditions in the coming days, from heavy rainfall and snowfall in the northern regions to hot and humid weather in the south, according to the latest forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Delhi, the national capital, will see mostly cloudy skies today, with temperatures ranging between 11°C and 23°C.
Northern India: Rainfall, Snowfall, and Thunderstorms Expected
The Western Disturbance, identified as a cyclonic circulation over north Pakistan and neighboring areas, along with an induced low-pressure area over west Punjab, is poised to bring significant weather changes. The IMD predicts fairly widespread to light to moderate rainfall and snowfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, across Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand on March 3, 2024. A notable decrease in intensity and distribution is expected afterward. Additionally, isolated heavy rainfall/snowfall is likely over Uttarakhand on the same day.
Other regions, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, and East Rajasthan, are also expected to receive scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall on March 3, with a subsequent decrease in intensity.
Southern and Eastern India: Varied Weather Conditions
The trough running from southwest Madhya Pradesh to North Interior Karnataka is causing a confluence of winds at lower tropospheric levels, leading to isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning over Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Sikkim on March 3 and 4, 2024. Isolated hailstorms are likely over Bihar and Jharkhand on March 3, with isolated heavy rainfall predicted over Sikkim.
Meanwhile, the cyclonic circulation over Meghalaya, now observed as a trough, is likely to bring isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall/snowfall over Arunachal Pradesh during the next five days, with isolated heavy events predicted on March 4. Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland will also see similar conditions between March 3 and 5.
Agromet Advisories and Safety Measures
Given the expected heavy snowfall, gusty winds, and hailstorms, the IMD, along with various Agricultural Meteorological Field Units (AMFUs), has issued several advisories for farmers and the general public. These include using hail nets or caps in orchards, providing mechanical support to crops, and harvesting mature crops early. For regions expecting heavy snowfall, shaking trees to remove snow from branches is advised to prevent damage.
The public is advised to stay indoors, secure loose objects, and avoid travel during thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds. In areas expecting heavy rainfall or snowfall, avoiding low-lying areas and staying away from power lines is crucial.
