Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a high-impact weather warning across eight Indian states, cautioning residents about severe thunderstorms, lightning strikes, hailstorms, strong winds, and heavy rainfall. The alert affects large swathes of central, eastern, and northern India, with IMD urging people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
Thunderstorm, lightning and hailstorm risks widespread
The IMD identified a dangerous weather system stretching from East Rajasthan to Gangetic West Bengal, passing through West and East Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bihar. Severe thunderstorms with “dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning” are forecasted in these areas, along with the potential for hailstorms.
Strong winds between 50–60 kmph are expected in Assam & Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, South Interior Karnataka, and Uttarakhand. Gusts of 40–50 kmph may occur over Himachal Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim. Isolated hailstorms are likely in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and parts of the eastern Himalayas.
Heavy rainfall and regional alerts issued
The IMD has also warned of heavy rainfall at isolated places in Odisha and South Interior Karnataka. In Vidarbha, including districts like Gondia, Bhandara, Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, and Yavatmal, thunderstorms, hail, and winds up to 50 kmph are expected.
Delhi under yellow alert for thunderstorms
Meanwhile, Delhi is bracing for evening thunderstorms and gusty winds up to 50 kmph, as a yellow alert remains in effect for Saturday and Sunday. Areas like Dwarka, IGI Airport, Mehrauli, Gurugram, and Faridabad are likely to be affected. Residents have been advised to stay away from trees, open water bodies, and unplug electronic appliances during storms.
On Friday, Delhi recorded 78 mm of rainfall till 8:30 am—its second-highest 24-hour May total since 1901. Lodhi Road saw the most rain (78 mm), followed closely by Safdarjung (77 mm). The maximum temperature settled at 35°C, nearly 4.3°C below the seasonal average.
