Rain, thunderstorms likely in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi today; dry weather from Sept 30: IMD

Panchkula, Sept 29 (UNI) Isolated to scattered rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and parts of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, before mainly dry weather sets in across much of northwest India from September 30, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

In its morning weather bulletin issued at 8.59 am, the IMD said isolated to scattered rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning was also likely over Himachal Pradesh on September 29 and over Uttarakhand from September 29 to October 4. Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are likely to witness similar weather on September 29 and again during October 2-4. AIWFB Rain was recorded at many places over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, West Rajasthan and East Rajasthan during the period from 8.30 am on Monday to 5.30 am on Tuesday.

Rain occurred at most places over Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The IMD's seven-day rainfall forecast shows isolated rain over Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh on September 29, followed by dry weather in all three subdivisions from September 30 to October 5. West Uttar Pradesh is also forecast to turn dry from September 30.

The southwest monsoon withdrawal continues, with its withdrawal line passing through Gurdaspur, Chandigarh, Muzaffarnagar, Aligarh, Dholpur, Udaipur, Deesa and Naliya, according to the IMD. A western disturbance was located over south Rajasthan and neighbourhood, while cyclonic circulations persisted over east Uttar Pradesh and northwest Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas. In central India, isolated to scattered rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is likely over West Madhya Pradesh on September 29, East Madhya Pradesh during September 29-October 2, Vidarbha during September 29-30 and Chhattisgarh from September 29 to October 4.

AIWFB In eastern India, fairly widespread rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is likely over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on September 29. Isolated to scattered rain is forecast over Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim through October 4, and over Bihar through October 1. In the Northeast, isolated to scattered rain is expected over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during September 29-October 4.

Isolated heavy rain is likely over Assam and Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura on September 29-30, while Arunachal Pradesh could receive isolated heavy rain on October 3-4. In western India, isolated to scattered rain is forecast over Konkan and Goa and Madhya Maharashtra through October 4, Gujarat Region through October 1 and Saurashtra and Kutch on September 30 and October 1.

Madhya Maharashtra may also experience thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph, with gusts up to 60 kmph on September 29. Rainfall activity is expected to remain significant over parts of southern India. The IMD has forecast isolated heavy rain over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal from September 29 to October 1; Kerala and Mahe from September 30 to October 3; and South Interior Karnataka from September 29 to October 2.

For September 29 specifically, the IMD has forecast isolated heavy rainfall over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, South Interior Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal. Meanwhile, the deep depression over coastal Myanmar weakened into a depression by 5.30 am on September 29 and was centred over Myanmar and adjoining east-central and northeast Bay of Bengal. It is likely to weaken further into a well-marked low-pressure area by Tuesday evening.

Squally weather is likely over parts of the Andaman Sea and adjoining Bay of Bengal, with winds strengthening to 55-65 kmph and gusting to 75 kmph in some areas. Rough to very rough sea conditions are also expected in parts of the region. The IMD has advised people in areas facing heavy rain and thunderstorms to watch for worsening weather, avoid sheltering under trees during lightning and remain alert to possible waterlogging, localised flooding and disruption to road and rail traffic.

UNI KK ARN