Heavy Rain Alert For J&K, Punjab, HP, Haryana Till Aug 4: IMD

PANCHKULA, Jul 30: Heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds are likely across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi till August 4, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.

The weather department has forecast widespread rainfall over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad during July 30-August 4.

Isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi and Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad during the period. Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are expected to receive isolated heavy rainfall from August 1-4, while isolated very heavy rainfall is likely over Punjab and Himachal Pradesh on July 30-31.

The IMD has also warned of isolated thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad during July 30-August 4. Wind speeds may reach 30-40 kmph, with gusts up to 50 kmph.

The prevailing weather conditions are influenced by a deep depression over central Chhattisgarh and northern interior Odisha. The system moved westward during the past six hours and is expected to continue moving across Chhattisgarh, east Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha before weakening into a depression within the next 24 hours.

Elsewhere, widespread rainfall is likely over West Rajasthan from July 31-August 2 and East Rajasthan from July 30-August 3. Uttar Pradesh is also expected to receive rainfall during August 2-4.

In Central India, widespread rainfall is likely over east and west Madhya Pradesh during July 30-August 2, while Vidarbha may receive rainfall during July 30-August 1 and August 4.

The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall, over West Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha on July 30. East Madhya Pradesh may also receive isolated very heavy rainfall on the same day.

Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds are likely over several parts of the region during the forecast period. (Agencies)