IMD Alert: Cyclonic Circulation to Bring Heavy Rainfall in India; Hailstorm Likely in Delhi

Beginning late Friday evening, Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) witnessed unexpected rain and strong winds. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted that the weather will remain unchanged for the next two hours, with hailstorms expected in the next 24 hours. 

The Met department predicted that in the next two hours, thunderstorms with "light to moderate intensity rain and gusty winds with speed of 20-30 kmph" would occur over and adjoining areas of isolated regions of Delhi and NCR, including in Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Indirapuram, among others, in the next two hours. 

Besides Delhi-NCR, which covers Delhi as well as parts of Uttar Pradesh, 22 states and Union territories (UTs) have been forecasted to receive showers along with gusty winds till February 28, according to the latest bulletin issued by the IMD. 

Here are the key IMD alerts for the next three days for 24 states and UTs: 

• Over the next two days, light to moderate rainfall or snowfall with isolated thunderstorms and lightning is very likely over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand owing to a western disturbance over Pakistan and an induced cyclonic circulation over southwest Rajasthan. Uttarakhand is also expected to have hailstorms over the next two days (till February 27), as well as isolated showers or snowfall in the subsequent two days.

• In the remaining few hours of Friday, Delhi, west Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh are expected to have isolated to scattered light rainfall with isolated thunderstorms and lightning.

• Over next 24 hours, isolated hailstorms are expected in Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, and northwest Uttar Pradesh.

• Strong gusty winds of 25-35 kmph are expected in Delhi, south Punjab, south Haryana, west Uttar Pradesh, and north Rajasthan tomorrow (February 26) and in the remaining few hours today. During the next 24 hours, North Rajasthan may also witness isolated light showers with thunderstorms and lightning.

• Another cyclonic circulation lies over east Madhya Pradesh and adjoining Chhattisgarh and trough runs from this circulation to Nagaland.  Due to this situation, isolated to scattered rainfall with thunderstorms or lightning is expected in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Sikkim over the next three days, and in Odisha over the following two days. During the next 24 hours, an isolated hailstorm is also possible across Bihar, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim.

• Isolated to scattered rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning are also expected in the northeastern states of Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh until February 28. Meghalaya is expected to have isolated hailstorms during the next 24 hours, while Arunachal Pradesh is expected to experience isolated heavy rainfall or snowfall on February 26.

• On February 27, a cyclonic circulation is expected to form over the south Andaman Sea and its surrounding areas, according to the Met Department.

According to the IMD bulletin, this would result in a low pressure region over the southeast Bay of Bengal and the bordering south Andaman Sea in 24 hours. Owing to this condition,, widespread moderate or light rainfall with thunderstorms or gusty wind, as well as isolated heavy rains, are expected in the Nicobar Islands on Tuesday.