IMD Weather Update: Heavy Snowfall, Thunderstorms, and Rain

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a comprehensive weather forecast highlighting significant weather changes across multiple states. Heavy snowfall, thunderstorms, hailstorms, gusty winds, and rain are expected to impact various regions, with fluctuating temperatures anticipated in Central India.

Weather Systems and Their Impact

Eastern and Central India

A trough extending from Gangetic West Bengal to Telangana and an anti-cyclonic circulation over the north Bay of Bengal are expected to bring diverse weather conditions.

Forecast Overview:

Region	Weather Activity	Dates
Gangetic West Bengal	Scattered to fairly widespread light/moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and gusty winds (30-40 kmph)	February 20-23
Bihar & Jharkhand	Isolated to scattered rainfall	February 20, 22-23
Odisha	Consistent light/moderate rainfall	February 20-23

Hailstorm Warning:

Isolated hailstorms likely in:
- Gangetic West Bengal on February 20
- Jharkhand and Odisha on February 20 and 22
Northwest and Western India

A Western Disturbance over Jammu and a cyclonic circulation over South Pakistan and adjoining Southwest Rajasthan will impact several states.

Forecast Overview:

Weather Event	Affected Regions	Date	Details
Rainfall & Snowfall	Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh	February 20	Scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall/snowfall
	Uttarakhand	February 20	Thunderstorms and isolated hailstorms
	Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh	February 20	Heavy snowfall warning
Thunderstorms & Gusty Winds	Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh	February 20	Thunderstorms with gusty winds (30-40 kmph)
	East Rajasthan	-	Thunderstorms expected
	West Rajasthan	-	Isolated rainfall
	Uttar Pradesh	February 20	Isolated thunderstorms

Upcoming Weather Change:

A fresh Western Disturbance is expected to affect Northwest India from February 24, bringing additional rainfall and snowfall.

Northeastern India

A cyclonic circulation over Northeast Assam will influence the weather conditions in the region.

Forecast Overview:

Weather Event	Regions Affected	Forecast Period
Rainfall & Snowfall	Arunachal Pradesh	Scattered to fairly widespread from Feb 20-25
	Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim	Isolated to scattered rainfall over the next seven days
Thunderstorm Activity	Arunachal Pradesh	Thunderstorms on Feb 20, 23
	Assam, Meghalaya	Thunderstorms from Feb 20-23
Gusty Winds (30-40 kmph)	Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura	February 20

Temperature Forecast

Minimum Temperature Trends:

There will be no significant change in Central India for the next three days, with a gradual fall of 2-3°C thereafter.
The rest of India will experience no major temperature variations over the next 4-5 days.

Maximum Temperature Trends:

Northwest India: A slight dip of 1-2°C in the next two days, followed by a gradual rise of 2-4°C.
Other Regions: No notable fluctuations are expected over the next 4-5 days.

Delhi/NCR Weather Outlook (Feb 20-22)

Delhi is expected to experience varied weather conditions, including cloud cover, light rainfall, and occasional strong winds.

Date	Sky Condition	Temperature (°C)	Wind Speed & Direction
20 Feb	Generally cloudy, very light rain/drizzle in morning & afternoon, strong winds (20-30 kmph)	24-26 (Max), 12-14 (Min)	SE wind <10 kmph, increasing to 18-20 kmph in afternoon
21 Feb	Partly cloudy, smog/mist in the morning	26-28 (Max), 12-14 (Min)	SE wind <6 kmph, increasing to 8-10 kmph in afternoon
22 Feb	Mainly clear, smog/mist in the morning	26-28 (Max), 10-12 (Min)	NW wind <6 kmph, increasing to 10-12 kmph in afternoon

Precautionary Measures

The IMD urges people to stay updated on local weather alerts and take necessary precautions, especially in hailstorm-prone and snowfall-affected areas.
Farmers, travellers, and residents in impacted zones should remain cautious and plan accordingly.
Those in Northeast and North India should prepare for potential travel disruptions due to heavy snowfall and thunderstorms.

With these forecasts, citizens should stay informed and take necessary steps to ensure safety during this period of intense weather activity.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies