NEW DELHI, Aug 5: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and isolated heavy to very heavy showers across several parts of northwest India, including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttarakhand, over the next week.
According to the IMD’s All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin issued on Wednesday, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is expected over Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand from August 5 to 11, with thunderstorms and lightning likely at isolated places.
The weather office has predicted isolated heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 and again from August 9 to 11. Himachal Pradesh is likely to receive heavy rainfall throughout the period from August 5 to 11, while Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh and Delhi may witness isolated heavy showers on August 5 and 6.
Uttarakhand is also expected to experience widespread rainfall with thunderstorms during August 5-11, with heavy rainfall forecast from August 6 to 11 and isolated very heavy rainfall on August 5.
The IMD said East and West Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha are also likely to receive widespread rainfall over the coming days, with several regions expected to witness heavy to very heavy precipitation accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.
In eastern India, widespread rainfall is likely over Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, as well as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The IMD has also warned of thundersqualls with wind speeds of 50-60 kmph, gusting up to 70 kmph, over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during August 5-11.
The northeastern states, including Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, are also expected to receive widespread rainfall, with isolated thunderstorms and lightning over the next few days.
The IMD has advised residents in affected areas to remain alert and follow weather advisories, especially in regions vulnerable to flooding, landslides and waterlogging due to persistent rainfall.
