A significant weather shift across India is attributed to a western disturbance, bringing rainfall, hailstorms, and cooler temperatures. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted a continuation of rain and snow on April 4. The impact of this disturbance is evident with scattered to fairly widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds expected in northeastern and eastern India.
Forecast and Weather Conditions
Heavy rains are anticipated in several regions:
- Northeast India: Isolated heavy falls on March 31 and April 1.
- Kerala: Significant rainfall expected from March 31 to April 1.
Temperatures across India are experiencing noticeable fluctuations. The lowest recorded temperature is 15 degrees Celsius in Gurdaspur, Punjab. In contrast, the highest temperature reached 41.4 degrees Celsius in Akola, Maharashtra. A decrease of up to 3 degrees Celsius is expected in Tamil Nadu by April 2, largely due to the influence of cloud cover and localized weather anomalies.
Impacts of Rain and Hail
Heavy rainfall has particularly affected Tripura and Kerala. Meanwhile, hailstorms have been reported in:
- Haryana
- West Madhya Pradesh
- Central Maharashtra
The western disturbance is prompting specific agricultural advisories in various regions to mitigate crop damage. These advisories include:
- Jammu and Kashmir: Drain excess water from wheat, gram, mustard, and vegetable fields.
- Sub-Himalayan West Bengal: Ensure proper drainage and move harvested produce to safe locations.
- Arunachal Pradesh: Harvest cabbage, pea, and mustard; maintain drainage channels.
- Assam: Address excess water in crop fields.
- Meghalaya: Ensure drainage for summer vegetable crops and protect young seedlings.
- Tripura: Manage excess water in low-lying areas.
- Kerala: Drain excess water from crop fields and orchards.
Farmers across affected regions are urged to take immediate action to protect their crops and minimize losses due to the adverse weather conditions associated with the western disturbance.
