New Delhi/Chandigarh, March 31 – A new western disturbance brought thunderstorms and rain to parts of northern India on Tuesday, while light snowfall continued in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh.
In Haryana, Hisar received 7.8 mm of rain, while Rohtak, Charkhi Dadri, Gurugram, Mahendragarh, Palwal, and Sonipat received 1 mm, 3 mm, 1 mm, 8 mm, 1.5 mm, and 0.5 mm of rain, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
There were also reports of hailstorms in Charkhi Dadri, Rewari, and Hisar in Haryana, as well as in Ferozepur in Punjab.
The maximum temperatures across the state were around 33 degrees Celsius, except in Mahendragarh, where it was 28 degrees.
In neighboring Punjab, Ferozepur and Fazilka received 7.5 mm and 2 mm of rain, respectively.
The maximum temperatures in Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala were 30.4, 33.6, and 34.8 degrees Celsius, respectively, while in Fazilka and Ferozepur, they were 33.1 and 33.2 degrees Celsius.
Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir was heavily affected by heavy rainfall, which caused a sudden rise in water levels in a stream, leading to flooding in a local school hostel. The Army rescued 34 people, including 30 students and four teachers, who were trapped in the building.
A snow avalanche was reported in the Tulail area of the Gurez sector in Bandipora district. However, officials said it caused no damage as it remained confined to the mountainous region.
The plains received moderate rainfall over the past 48 hours, while some higher reaches experienced snowfall.
Baramulla received over 70 mm of rain in the last 24 hours, the highest in the valley. Nowgam in the Handwara area received 58.2 mm during the corresponding period, followed by Qazigund (48.6 mm) and Kulgam (42.2 mm). Srinagar city also received a fair amount of rain, recording 31.6 mm in the past 24 hours.
The weather in Kashmir is expected to remain cloudy on Wednesday before another wet spell over the weekend.
In the national capital, Delhi residents experienced cloudy skies and spells of rain as the capital was put on a yellow alert, while temperatures remained above normal, reaching a maximum of 33.7 degrees Celsius.
Rainfall recorded between 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm was 2.1 mm in Safdarjung, 2.6 mm in Palam, 2.8 mm in Lodi Road, 2.4 mm in Ridge, and 2.2 mm in Ayanagar. Janakpuri recorded the highest rainfall at 4 mm, while Pusa and Mayur Vihar received 2 mm each, and Pitampura recorded 1.5 mm.
Maximum temperatures across stations were in a similar range above normal, with Safdarjung recording 33.7 degrees Celsius, Palam 33.2 degrees Celsius, Lodi Road 33.2 degrees Celsius, Ridge 33.9 degrees Celsius, and Ayanagar 33.8 degrees Celsius.
Minimum temperatures showed slight variation, with Safdarjung at 19.4 degrees Celsius, Palam at 19.6 degrees Celsius, Lodi Road at 18.0 degrees Celsius, Ridge at 18.4 degrees Celsius, and Ayanagar at 18.6 degrees Celsius.
The weather office has forecast a minimum temperature of 18 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 34 degrees Celsius for Wednesday, with partly cloudy skies.
Meanwhile, light snow continued in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh. Gondla received 4 cm of snow, while Keylong recorded 2 cm of snow as of Tuesday morning.
The Shimla Met office issued a yellow warning of thunderstorm, lightning, and gusty winds with wind speeds of 40-50 kmph in isolated areas across ten of the 12 districts, excluding tribal Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti, for Friday and Saturday.
It also predicted a wet spell in the state until April 6 as a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from April 2.
Intermittent rains lashed a few areas in the middle and lower hills.
Kumarsein in Shimla district was the wettest, with 39 mm of rain, followed by Sarahan (38.7), Dharamshala (27.1), Kangra (18.2), Nichar (15), Manali (11), Jot (10.8), and Keylong and Gohar (10 each).
Shimla, Kangra, Sundernagar, Jot, Palampur, and Bhuntar experienced thunderstorms and lightning, while Kangra and Shilaroo experienced a hailstorm. Gusty winds ranging between 46 and 61 kmph were recorded in Tabo and Seobagh, according to the IMD.
There was no significant change in the minimum and maximum temperatures.
Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti was the coldest at night, with a low of 0.1 degrees Celsius, while Neri in Hamirpur was the hottest during the day, recording a high of 30.6 degrees Celsius.
During the pre-monsoon season from March 1 to 31, Himachal Pradesh received 99.6 mm of rain, compared to the normal rainfall of 113.4 mm, resulting in a 12 per cent deficit.