Rain likely in Haryana, Punjab from Oct 6; thunderstorms, gusty winds forecast for three days: IMD

Panchkula, Oct 5 (UNI) Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh and Delhi are likely to see a change in weather from October 6, with a spell of isolated rain followed by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds during October 7-9, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.

In its All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin issued at 8:22 a.m. on October 5, the IMD forecast isolated to scattered rainfall over Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Punjab and west Uttar Pradesh from October 6 to 10, while east Uttar Pradesh is likely to receive isolated to scattered rain from October 5 to 10. The weather is expected to remain largely dry over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Punjab on October 5, before rainfall activity begins on October 6.

The IMD's seven-day rainfall forecast puts both Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi and Punjab in the "isolated" rainfall category from October 6 through October 11. Under IMD classification, isolated rainfall means precipitation at 1-25% of reporting stations, suggesting that the spell is not expected to produce widespread rain across the two states. Weather activity is expected to intensify from October 7.

The IMD has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, at isolated places over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab from October 7 to 9. The department's day-wise warnings confirm thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds over the region on October 7, 8 and 9. There is no such warning for Haryana or Punjab for October 6.

The latest subdivision-wise IMD warning issued on October 5 independently shows no warning for Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi and Punjab on October 5 and 6, followed by thunderstorm and lightning warnings on October 7, 8 and 9. The national bulletin does not forecast heavy rainfall over Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh or Delhi during the spell.

The expected rain and thunderstorms come after dry conditions over much of northwest India. The IMD's observations for the period from 8:30 a.m. on October 4 to 5:30 a.m. on October 5 showed dry weather over much of the country outside the regions that received rainfall. Temperatures have meanwhile remained above normal in parts of Haryana and Punjab. Minimum temperatures on October 4 were 3.1 to 5 degrees Celsius above normal at a few places in Punjab, while isolated places in Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi also recorded minimum temperatures in the same appreciably above-normal range. Maximum temperatures were 1.6 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal at many places over Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi, while theywere near normal at most places in Punjab.

The change in weather will extend across much of northwest India. The IMD has forecast isolated to scattered rainfall over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand from October 5 to 10. Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh is likely to receive isolated to scattered rainfall during October 6-8 and again on October 10. Rainfall activity is expected to intensify over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh on October 9, wwith fairly widespread to widespread rain forecast Himachal Pradesh is likely to experience thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, during October 6-8. Uttarakhand is likely to see thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, during October 5-7.

The changing weather comes as the southwest monsoon continues to withdraw from the country. The IMD said the withdrawal line continues to pass through 27.5°N/86.5°E, Supaul, Ranchi, Raipur, Brahmapuri, Parbhani, Baramati, Harnai and 17.5°N/71.8°E. Conditions are likely to become favourable during the next two to three days for further withdrawal of the southwest monsoon from most parts of Marathwada and Vidarbha, some more parts of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, and parts of Telangana and north interior Karnataka. In central India, isolated to scattered rainfall is likely over west Madhya Pradesh during October 9-10, east Madhya Pradesh during October 7-9, Vidarbha on October 6 and Chhattisgarh during October 6-10.

Thunderstorms and lightning are also forecast over Vidarbha on October 6 and Chhattisgarh during October 6-8. Across east India, isolated to scattered rainfall is forecast over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during October 5-10. Jharkhand and Bihar are likely to receive isolated to scattered rain during October 5-9. Gangetic West Bengal could experience thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, on October 6 and 7.

In the Northeast, isolated to scattered rainfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, and Nagaland-Manipur-Mizoram-Tripura throughout October 5-10. Thunderstorms and lightning are also likely over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura on October 5. In western India, isolated to scattered rainfall is forecast over Konkan and Goa and Madhya Maharashtra on October 7 and 8. Hot and humid conditions are likely over Konkan and Goa on October 5. Southern India is expected to see some of the country's more significant rainfall during the early part of the week.

The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall at isolated places over coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe, south interior Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on October 5 and 6. Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is likely over Kerala and Mahe on October 5-6 and again during October 9-10, while coastal Karnataka and Lakshadweep are expected to see fairly widespread to widespread rainfall on October 5-6. Isolated to scattered rain is forecast over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, north interior Karnataka, Rayalaseema, south interior Karnataka and Tamil Nadu-Puducherry-Karaikal throughout October 5-10.

Kerala and Mahe are likely to see isolated to scattered rain during October 7-8, while coastal Karnataka and Lakshadweep are forecast to receive it during October 7-10. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, are likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during October 5-8 and over Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep during October 5-6. Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema could experience thunderstorms with winds of 30-40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, during October 5-8, while similar conditions are forecast over Telangana during October 5-6.

Strong surface winds are also likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema during October 5-8. For Haryana and Punjab, the key forecast is therefore: dry on October 5; isolated rain beginning October 6; and the more active phase with thunderstorms, lightning and winds gusting up to 50 kmph during October 7-9. ''

I KK ARN