A fresh western disturbance has reached the doorstep of North India, setting the stage for widespread cloud cover, thunderstorms, and scattered rainfall over the next 24 to 36 hours.
The system is currently positioned over north Pakistan and adjoining Afghanistan, but has already begun influencing weather patterns across India. Clouds have spread over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, while plains including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan are also witnessing increasing cloud cover.
A Western Disturbance is an extratropical storm originating in the Mediterranean region. It travels eastward, bringing winter rain and snow to North India. These systems are crucial for replenishing water resources but can also trigger storms, hail, and sudden temperature changes across the region.
By Thursday afternoon, the cloud bands had expanded further eastward, reaching Delhi and moving toward western Uttar Pradesh. Meteorologists say the system will continue to move east, pushing clouds into eastern Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and parts of eastern India.
“Rainfall activity is expected to intensify from Friday, with scattered to isolated showers likely across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan. Several districts in northern and eastern Madhya Pradesh, as well as most parts of Uttar Pradesh, are also expected to remain under cloudy skies with chances of rain through Friday night,” Devendra Tripathi, founder of Mausam Tak told IndiaToday.in.
Eastern states including Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh are also likely to see similar conditions.
Rainfall in these regions will be uneven, ranging from isolated showers to scattered thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning, gusty winds, and occasional storm activity typical of pre-monsoon conditions.
In the Himalayan region, the impact is expected to be more intense. Areas between Kashmir and Uttarakhand may witness rain, snowfall at higher altitudes, and even hailstorms at isolated locations. Arunachal Pradesh is also likely to receive rainfall under the influence of this system.
Further south, light to moderate rain is possible over Telangana, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Parts of Maharashtra, particularly Vidarbha, Marathwada, and southern Madhya Maharashtra, may also receive brief spells of rain.
However, not all regions will benefit from the system. Western Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and parts of western Rajasthan are expected to clear up after Friday afternoon, leading to a rise in temperatures.
The rest of Maharashtra is likely to remain hot and dry.
Weather experts advise residents in affected regions to stay alert for sudden thunderstorms, lightning, and localised heavy downpours, especially during evening hours.
