India is set to witness a mix of rain, snowfall, thunderstorms and heatwave conditions over the coming days as multiple weather systems become active across the country, according to the India Meteorological Department.
Meteorologists say several atmospheric systems are currently influencing the weather, including two upper air cyclonic circulations over Bangladesh and northeast Assam, along with troughs stretching from Bihar to Marathwada and from south Tamil Nadu to coastal Karnataka.
A Western Disturbance moving across the northern regions is also expected to trigger significant weather activity in the Himalayan belt.
Under the influence of these systems, rain and snowfall are likely over the Western Himalayan region. Light snowfall and rain are expected over Jammu and Kashmir between March 9 and March 12, with the activity likely to become scattered to fairly widespread during this period. The intensity is expected to reduce to isolated precipitation between March 13 and March 15.
Neighbouring hill states including Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand may also experience isolated to scattered rain and snowfall from March 9 to March 15.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-50 km/h are likely in Jammu and Kashmir from March 9-12, while Himachal Pradesh may experience similar conditions on March 11, 12, 14 and 15.
The IMD has also warned of heavy rain and snowfall at isolated places in Jammu and Kashmir on March 10 and 11, along with the possibility of hailstorms on March 10.
Himachal Pradesh may witness hailstorms on March 11 and 12.
Meanwhile, eastern and northeastern parts of the country are expected to see scattered thunderstorms and rainfall. States including Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of West Bengal may experience thunderstorms and gusty winds through March 11, while northeastern states such as Assam and Arunachal Pradesh could see rainfall and lightning through mid-March.
In sharp contrast, heatwave conditions are forecast in parts of western and central India. Isolated pockets of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Vidarbha are likely to experience heatwave conditions between March 9 and March 11, while hot and humid weather may prevail across parts of Maharashtra and coastal Gujarat.
Day temperatures across many regions of northwest India are expected to remain 4–7°C above normal in the coming days, before gradually falling later in the week.
Weather experts say the combination of active western disturbances and regional circulations is creating contrasting weather patterns across the country, bringing winter-like conditions in the mountains while parts of the plains brace for early-season heat.
