The running week of March is likely to be the rainiest for almost all states of the country. Weather activity is expected to be more spread out and intense as well, over some pockets of central and south India than the rest. Short duration heavy thundershowers are likely over Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and may later land up in small pockets of West Bengal and Bihar.
Plains of North India covering Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Delhi will observe cloudy sky on 15th March, preceding the wet spell, noticeably commencing from 16th evening onward. It is likely to be 6 days spell lasting till 21st March. Spatial distribution and intensity will vary over different parts. However, the force and spread of weather activity will be large between 17th and 19th March.
Harvest of wheat crop generally starts in the 1st week of April over Punjab and Haryana. It picks up pace and reaches peak around the festival 'Baisakhi'. Early sown Rabi crop may see the harvest beginning anytime soon. It goes without saying that the harvest, if not yet undertaken, is advised to be delayed by about a week.
Light or moderate rains may not damage the crop at this stage. However, the moisture left behind in the air and the grains, in the wake of rains need to be dried up adequately. Heavy thundershowers accompanied with strong gusty winds always leave jitters for the farmer. Hailstorm , even for moderate duration, invariably leads to 'ripple effect' proving hurtful for the standing crops. The possibility of such adverse weather at few places during this period can not be ruled out. Fingers crossed for the smooth passage of first pre monsoon spell across northern plains of the country.