New Delhi

A fresh western disturbance triggered widespread weather activity across northern India on Tuesday, bringing thunderstorms, rainfall, and snowfall in several regions. While the plains experienced rain and occasional hailstorms, higher altitudes, particularly in Himachal Pradesh, continued to witness light snowfall.

In Haryana, varying amounts of rainfall were recorded across districts. Hisar received 7.8 mm of rain, while Mahendragarh recorded 8 mm. Other areas such as Rohtak, Charkhi Dadri, Gurugram, Palwal, and Sonipat saw lighter showers ranging between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Hailstorms were also reported in parts of Charkhi Dadri, Rewari, and Hisar, along with Ferozepur in neighbouring Punjab. Daytime temperatures in most parts of Haryana remained close to 33°C, except Mahendragarh, which recorded a comparatively lower 28°C.

Punjab also experienced scattered rainfall, with Ferozepur receiving 7.5 mm and Fazilka recording 2 mm. Maximum temperatures in key cities such as Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala ranged between 30.4°C and 34.8°C, while Fazilka and Ferozepur reported temperatures just above 33°C.

In Jammu and Kashmir, heavy rain led to a surge in water levels in a stream in Baramulla district, causing flooding in a school hostel. The Army successfully rescued 34 individuals, including students and teachers, who were stranded in the building. Meanwhile, an avalanche occurred in the Tulail area of Gurez in Bandipora district, though it remained confined to mountainous terrain and did not result in any damage.

Over the past two days, the Kashmir Valley has received moderate rainfall in the plains and snowfall in higher elevations. Baramulla recorded the highest rainfall at over 70 mm in 24 hours, followed by Nowgam (58.2 mm), Qazigund (48.6 mm), and Kulgam (42.2 mm). Srinagar also experienced significant rainfall, registering 31.6 mm during the same period. Weather conditions are expected to remain cloudy on Wednesday, with another spell of rain likely over the weekend.

In Delhi, residents woke up to cloudy skies and intermittent rain, as the city was placed under a yellow alert. Despite the rainfall, temperatures stayed above the seasonal average, with the maximum reaching 33.7°C. Rainfall measurements between mid-afternoon and early evening showed modest accumulation across various stations, with Janakpuri recording the highest at 4 mm. Other areas, including Safdarjung, Palam, and Lodi Road, recorded rainfall between 2.1 mm and 2.8 mm.

Temperature readings across the capital remained consistently high, with most stations recording maximum temperatures between 33°C and 34°C. Minimum temperatures showed slight variation, hovering between 18°C and 19.6°C. The IMD has forecast partly cloudy skies for Wednesday, with temperatures expected to range from 18°C to 34°C.

In Himachal Pradesh, light snowfall persisted in higher regions, with Gondla receiving 4 cm and Keylong recording 2 cm of snow. The Shimla Meteorological Centre has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph in most districts on Friday and Saturday, excluding Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti.

The state is likely to experience continued wet conditions until April 6 due to another approaching western disturbance expected to impact northwest India from April 2. Several areas in the mid and lower hills also witnessed intermittent rain. Kumarsein emerged as the wettest location with 39 mm of rainfall, closely followed by Sarahan (38.7 mm) and Dharamshala (27.1 mm).

Thunderstorms and lightning were reported in multiple locations, including Shimla, Kangra, Sundernagar, and Palampur, while hailstorms affected Kangra and Shilaroo. Strong winds, with speeds ranging from 46 to 61 kmph, were recorded in Tabo and Seobagh.

Temperatures in the state remained largely stable. Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti was the coldest at night, recording a minimum of 0.1°C, while Neri in Hamirpur was the warmest during the day at 30.6°C.

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Between March 1 and March 31, Himachal Pradesh received 99.6 mm of rainfall, which is about 12 percent below the normal average of 113.4 mm for this period.