New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in several states across central and north India, including Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, until February 13. The weather department has also warned of thunderstorms, lightning, strong winds, and hailstorms in some parts of these states.
According to the IMD, the rainfall activity is due to the influence of a trough extending from south interior Karnataka to west Vidarbha in the lower tropospheric levels. This trough is likely to persist and move eastward, affecting the weather over the eastern and northeastern parts of the country.
The IMD has predicted the following weather conditions for the next few days:
- East Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand: Rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds on February 12 and 13. Hailstorms are also expected over east Madhya Pradesh and north Chhattisgarh on February 12.
- Maharashtra’s Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh: Rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds on February 12.
- Bihar: Rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds on February 13 and 14.
- Gangetic West Bengal: Rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds on February 14.
- Odisha: Rainfall on February 12, 15, and 16.
- Uttar Pradesh: Rainfall on February 12, 13, and 14.
The IMD has also forecast a gradual increase in minimum temperatures by 2°C-4°C over northwest India and east India in the next 5 and 3 days, respectively. However, cold wave conditions are likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Himachal Pradesh and east Rajasthan on February 12.
The IMD has also issued a warning for squally weather over the Comorin area and the Gulf of Oman adjoining the northwest Arabian Sea. Squally winds with speeds reaching 45-55 kmph, gusting to 65 kmph, are expected over the Comorin area, while winds with speeds reaching 40-45 kmph, gusting to 55 kmph, are expected over the Gulf of Oman. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into these areas.
On Sunday, minimum temperatures ranging from 7°C-11°C were recorded across many areas of the northern plains. These temperatures were below the normal range in certain parts of the region. The IMD recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 4.6°C in Amritsar.
