New Delhi, March 18 Heavy rains and strong winds hit northern states on Wednesday, with snowfall reported in some areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
The national capital, Delhi, also experienced turbulent weather in the evening, with strong winds, dust storms, and thunderstorms accompanied by rain sweeping across parts of the city.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an "orange warning" for light to moderate thunderstorms with lightning and strong winds over Jammu region and Himachal Pradesh, along with light to moderate rain in other states.
Some areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir experienced fresh snowfall on Wednesday, while most parts of the Valley received rain.
Pir Ki Gali in Shopian district and Sonamarg in Ganderbal district received snowfall, while most mountains in the Valley, which had experienced intermittent snowfall since Sunday, remained covered in snow.
The plains, including Srinagar, experienced heavy rain, which continued until the latest reports came in on Wednesday.
The IMD forecast erratic weather in the Union Territory until March 20, with a possibility of light to moderate rain or snow at many places. It also predicted moderate to heavy snowfall in some higher reaches of Chenab Valley and south Kashmir.
The IMD also predicted another spell of wet weather from March 26-28, with light rain or snow at scattered locations in the higher reaches. It also forecast thunderstorms and strong winds with speeds of 40-50 kilometers per hour at some locations until March 20, with a possibility of hailstorms at isolated locations.
In Himachal Pradesh, isolated areas in the Lahaul and Spiti district received fresh snowfall, while rain lashed some districts.
Gondla in Lahaul and Spiti received 4 cm of snow, Kukumseri 3.6 cm, Keylong 3 cm, and Hans 2.5 cm.
Among the districts that received rainfall, Manali recorded 14 mm of rain, followed by Dharamshala and Kangra with 2 mm each, and Shimla and Jubberhatti with 1 mm each.
The Shimla Met office issued an orange warning, predicting heavy snowfall and thunderstorms in the state over the next two days, even as it stated that the wet spell is likely to continue until March 24.
Lahaul and Spiti will continue to experience heavy snowfall on Thursday and Friday, and heavy rain, snow, thunderstorms with lightning, hail, and strong winds with speeds ranging from 40-60 kilometers per hour are likely at isolated locations in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla.
The Met office predicted that light to moderate rain or snow is very likely at most places in the state on Thursday and Friday, while light rain and snow is likely at isolated locations in the state from March 21 to 24.
Delhi, which recorded a maximum temperature of over 33 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, ended the day with strong winds, dust storms, and thunderstorms accompanied by rain sweeping across parts of the city.
Wind speeds reached up to 68 kilometers per hour in some areas, following which the weather office issued an orange alert at 7 pm.
The Met office has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms and rain over the next two days.
Rainfall activity intensified across the Delhi region until 8 pm, with CRPF Campus recording the highest precipitation at 11.5 mm, followed by Janakpuri at 10.5 mm.
Experts said a western disturbance has induced a cyclonic circulation over south Haryana, which triggered the rain and storm on Wednesday.
"From Thursday onwards, the system is expected to intensify over central Pakistan and adjoining parts of Punjab and Haryana, leading to further rainfall over the next two days," Mahesh Palawat from Skymet told