NEW DELHI, July 23: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast widespread rainfall across several parts of North India, including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, over the next week, with isolated spells of heavy to very heavy rain in several regions.
According to the IMD’s morning bulletin issued on Thursday, Jammu & Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are expected to receive widespread rainfall from July 23 to 28. Ladakh is likely to witness isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall during the next two days.
The weather office said Punjab is likely to experience widespread rainfall on July 23 and July 27-28, with scattered rain expected between July 24 and 26. Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi are forecast to receive widespread rainfall on July 27-28, while scattered showers are expected from July 23 to 26.
In Uttar Pradesh, widespread rainfall is expected over East Uttar Pradesh on July 27-28 and West Uttar Pradesh on July 28, with scattered rainfall during the preceding days.
For Rajasthan, the IMD has forecast widespread rainfall over West Rajasthan from July 23-26 and over East Rajasthan from July 23-27, followed by scattered rainfall towards the end of the forecast period.
The IMD has also warned of isolated thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, gusting up to 50 kmph, across Jammu & Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad from July 23 to 28. Similar weather conditions are expected over Rajasthan, with wind speeds reaching 40-50 kmph and gusting up to 60 kmph in some areas.
The department further predicted isolated heavy rainfall over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand throughout July 23-28. Heavy rainfall is also likely over Punjab on July 23 and 25, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi on July 23, East Uttar Pradesh during July 26-28, West Uttar Pradesh on July 27-28, and Rajasthan during the forecast period.
Additionally, isolated very heavy rainfall is expected over Punjab and Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi on July 27-28, and over East Rajasthan from July 23 to 26.
The IMD said the daily forecasts and warnings remain valid from 8:30 am IST to 8:30 am IST the following day and advised residents in the affected regions to remain alert for changing weather conditions.
