The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday predicted light to moderate rain and thunderstorms across the northern part of the country. Fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall and snowfall, accompanied by isolated thunderstorms and lightning, are expected over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, and Himachal Pradesh on March 30.
According to the release, a Western Disturbance has been identified as a cyclonic circulation over western Afghanistan and neighbouring areas, with a trough aloft in middle and upper tropospheric westerlies approximately along Long. 62°E to the north of Lat. 20°N. Additionally, an induced cyclonic circulation is present over northwest Rajasthan and neighbouring regions in lower tropospheric levels.
"As a result of these weather systems, fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall and snowfall, accompanied by isolated thunderstorms and lightning, are expected over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, and Himachal Pradesh on March 30. Similarly, Uttarakhand is likely to experience such conditions during 30th-31st March," the statement said.
IMD said that Uttarakhand is expected to witness Isolated heavy rainfall and snowfall on March 30.
Additionally, isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall, along with thunderstorms and lightning, are anticipated over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh on March 30-31.
There is also a possibility of isolated hailstorms over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Uttarakhand during the same period.
Furthermore, a cyclonic circulation over southwest Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring areas, along with a trough or wind discontinuity from north Tamil Nadu to the cyclonic circulation over southwest Madhya Pradesh in lower tropospheric levels, will lead to isolated light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning over East Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidarbha, and Chhattisgarh on March 30.
Delhi Records Warmest Day Of The Year At 37.8°C:
Delhi experienced its hottest day of the year so far on Friday (March 29), with the maximum temperature reaching 37.8 degrees Celsius, surpassing the seasonal average by five degrees, PTI reported citing IMD officials.
The previous high for the season was recorded at 37 degrees Celsius on March 27, as per India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Although the day commenced with clear skies, the weather turned overcast towards the evening, accompanied by light rainfall in certain areas of the city, as per the IMD's observations. The IMD has forecasted the possibility of thundershowers in Delhi for Saturday.
Projections suggest that the maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to remain around 36 and 20 degrees Celsius respectively. Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the Regional Meteorological Centre, told PTI, "Despite the rising temperatures, the presence of cloud cover and occasional showers mitigated the intensity of the heat in Delhi".