Weather alert: Two western disturbances likely to impact north India this week

Weather conditions across several parts of the country may turn unsettled in the coming days as two successive western disturbances are expected to influence northwest India during the week , the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.

According to the department, the systems are likely to bring rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and hailstorms to parts of the region, with peak activity expected on Friday, Saturday and Tuesday. The Kashmir Valley may witness isolated heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday , while neighbouring areas could see scattered showers and stormy weather.

The impact of the current weather systems is not limited to northern India. The IMD has forecast rainfall with thunderstorms and lightnin g across central and peninsular India until April 7. Some regions may also witness isolated hailstorms, particularly Madhya Pradesh, central Maharashtra, Marathwada, and adjoining parts of Gujarat on April 3, followed by similar conditions over east Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh on April 4.

Despite the rain and storms, daytime temperatures across most parts of the country are expected to stay near or slightly below normal , offering relief from the rising summer heat. Weather activity has already been reported in several states over the past 24 hours, including heavy rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh, central Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, along with hailstorms in east Rajasthan, western Madhya Pradesh, and central Maharashtra.

March saw eight western disturbances , higher than the usual five or six. Western disturbances are eastward-moving weather systems that originate beyond Afghanistan and Iran. As they travel toward India, they pick up moisture from surrounding seas and often bring rain or snow to northern parts of the country, influencing both winter and pre-summer weather patterns.