A powerful winter system is impacting large parts of the country over the next 4 days. States of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal will come under the influence of a dual weather system. Weather activity will travel from west to east, during this period. It may simultaneously affect a few states and keep shifting gear to reach the far eastern posts of the country. Thunderstorms, hailstorms, gusty winds and heavy rains are likely in many places. While, the northern states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh may have a wide coverage of weather activity, the other parts will have some gaps to fill. Spread and intensity of activity may be a bit thinner over Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal.
An active western disturbance has arrived over Jammu & Kashmir, today. Induced cyclonic circulation will reach the plains of Punjab, Haryana and North Rajasthan with a lag of 24 hours. The combined force of the duo will draw a lot of energy from the Arabian Sea. Moist southwesterly winds will trigger thunderstorms and possibly hailstorms over the foothills and northern parts of Punjab and Haryana. States of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh could also have the hailstorm in isolated places. Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal will be spared from the menacing part of this widespread activity.
Rain and thundershowers are likely over the plains of Punjab, Haryana, North and East Rajasthan, Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh, commencing tomorrow, in the late hours of the day. Peak activity, particularly, the hailstorm, is expected on 02nd March. The remnant effect will continue on 03rd March, as well. In the meantime, a trail of this system will draw some clouds over West and South Rajasthan and North Gujarat & Kutch. This may trigger some unseasonal showers over these parts. Even, the state of Maharashtra will be mildly touched with untimely rains on 01st and 02nd March. Madhya Pradesh will have most of the weather activity on 02nd Mar and will exit the next day. State of Bihar, Jharkhand and North Chhattisgarh will have the peripherals of the system reaching on 03rdMar and staying till the next day. Parts of West Bengal and Odisha will have the truncated effect, only for one day, on 04th Mar.
This weather system looks to be the strongest of this season, though at the fag end of winter and spilling over to the transition month of March. These are still welcome showers from the agriculture point. However, the combination of hail and strong winds, accompanied by heavy showers do carry damaging potential. It does lead to the lodging of crops with weak bases and also the ones with heavily laden grains of wheat and maize. Broad clearance of weather activity is expected on 05th March and later.
