The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rain, snowfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds across several parts of the country on Wednesday, with the western Himalayan region expected to see the most active weather conditions.
According to the IMD, scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall and snowfall are likely over Jammu and Kashmir from March 10 to 12, with the intensity expected to reduce to isolated light rain or snow between March 13 and 16.
The weather system may also bring thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds reaching 30–50 kmph across parts of Jammu and Kashmir on March 10 and 11.
Neighbouring hill states are also expected to see unsettled weather. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are likely to receive isolated to scattered light rain or snowfall between March 10 and 16.
The IMD has also warned of thunderstorms with gusty winds in Himachal Pradesh on March 11 and 12, and again between March 14 and 16.
A hailstorm is also likely at isolated places in Jammu and Kashmir on March 10, while Himachal Pradesh may experience hailstorms on March 11 and 12, the weather agency said.
Elsewhere in north India, isolated rainfall is expected over Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh between March 14 and 16, while West Uttar Pradesh may see light rain on March 15 and 16. Parts of Rajasthan could also receive isolated showers, particularly on March 14 and 15, with thunderstorms possible in some areas.
Eastern and central parts of the country may also experience unsettled weather. The IMD predicts scattered rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning over Odisha on March 10 and 11, while Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh may receive similar weather conditions on March 13 and 14.
Meanwhile, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are expected to see rain between March 10 and 13, while Gangetic West Bengal and Jharkhand may experience showers from March 10 to 12. Bihar could also see thunderstorms on March 11, 15 and 16.
Despite the rain and snow in some regions, heatwave conditions are likely in parts of western India.
The IMD has warned of heatwave to severe heatwave conditions in isolated pockets of Gujarat and north Konkan on March 10 and 11, with temperatures also rising in parts of West Rajasthan and Vidarbha.
Meteorologists said maximum temperatures in the western Himalayan region may gradually fall by 5-6°C over the next week, while parts of northwest India are expected to see a gradual cooling trend after the next few days.
