IMD warns of 60 kmph winds, storms in Haryana, Delhi; Rain in Punjab till Oct 15
Panchkula, Oct 10 (UNI) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday forecast thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds gusting up to 60 kmph at isolated places in Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi between October 10 and 12, while warning of gusty winds reaching 50 kmph in Punjab during the same period.
In its All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin issued at 8.04 am on Saturday, the IMD predicted isolated to scattered rainfall across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi between October 10 and 15, signalling intermittent weather activity across the northwestern region.
According to the bulletin, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and winds of 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, are likely at isolated places in Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi during October 10-12. Punjab may experience thunderstorms, lightning and winds of 30-40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph. The IMD's seven-day rainfall forecast indicates isolated rainfall in Punjab on October 10, followed by scattered rainfall on October 11 and 12. Rainfall is expected to remain confined to isolated locations from October 13 to 16. In Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, isolated rainfall is forecast for October 10 and 11, scattered rainfall on October 12 and isolated rainfall during October 13-16.
The weather department identified an upper-air cyclonic circulation over Haryana and adjoining areas at an altitude of approximately 1.5 km above mean sea level. A trough extended from this circulation towards coastal Bangladesh across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal. A western disturbance was also located over Jammu and adjoining areas at approximately 3.1 km above mean sea level, according to the IMD's meteorological analysis based on observations recorded at 5.30 am.
The IMD warned of heavy rainfall at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir on October 10. Himachal Pradesh is expected to receive isolated to scattered rainfall between October 10 and 15, with thunderstorms and lightning likely at isolated places on October 13. Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are forecast to experience fairly widespread to widespread rainfall on October 10 and again on October 13, while thunderstorms and lightning are expected at isolated places on October 10, 13 and 14. Uttarakhand is also likely to receive rainfall between October 10 and 15. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and winds of 30-40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, are forecast at isolated places on October 10. In Rajasthan, thunderstorms and gusty winds are likely over western parts on October 10 and 11 and eastern parts on October 10.
The IMD's temperature observations for October 9 showed markedly above-normal minimum temperatures at a few places in Punjab, with departures exceeding 5.1 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperatures were also 3.1-5 degrees Celsius above normal at many places in Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, indicating unusually warm nighttime conditions. Maximum temperatures were 1.6-3 degrees Celsius above normal at a few places in Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, while most places in Punjab recorded near-normal daytime temperatures.
The weather department's agrometeorological advisory recommended precautions against thunderstorms and strong winds, particularly for harvested crops and horticultural plantations. "Shift the harvested produce in safer places or cover the produce with tarpaulin sheets in the fields," the IMD advised. It also recommended securing harvested crops and providing mechanical support to vegetables, young fruit plants and fruit-bearing plants to minimise damage from gusty winds.
The forecast is particularly relevant to farmers in Punjab and Haryana during the ongoing crop-harvesting and procurement season, as rainfall and strong winds could complicate the handling, transportation and storage of harvested produce. Elsewhere in the country, the IMD forecast isolated heavy rainfall on October 10 in Bihar, coastal Karnataka, south interior Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal. In eastern India, isolated to scattered rainfall is expected over Odisha from October 10 to 15, Bihar on October 10-11 and October 15, and Jharkhand on October 10.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and winds of 30-40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, are likely over Jharkhand and Odisha on October 10. In the northeastern states, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is forecast over Arunachal Pradesh on October 10. Assam and Meghalaya may receive rainfall on October 10-11 and October 13-15, while Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura are likely to experience isolated to scattered rainfall throughout October 10-15. Heavy rainfall is forecast at isolated places in these four northeastern states on October 13. In southern India, Kerala and Mahe are likely to experience fairly widespread to widespread rainfall throughout October 10-15. Thunderstorms accompanied by winds of 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, are forecast over Kerala and Mahe, Lakshadweep and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on October 10. Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema may experience thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 50 kmph during October 10-13.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are expected to receive fairly widespread to widespread rainfall on October 10 and 11, with isolated heavy rainfall likely on October 13 and 14. The IMD said an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the Gulf of Thailand and adjoining areas was likely to emerge over the Andaman Sea around October 11. Under its influence, a low-pressure area could form over the southeast Bay of Bengal around October 13. The department also forecast hot and humid conditions at isolated places in coastal Karnataka, Konkan, and Goa on October 10. Meanwhile, conditions are becoming favourable for further withdrawal of the southwest monsoon from parts of eastern India, the northern peninsula and several areas of northeastern India over the next two to three days.
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