Strong western disturbance to bring rain, hailstorms across northwest India: IMD

A strong western disturbance is expected to impact northwest India over the next few days, bringing rain, thunderstorms, and hailstorms, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The system is likely to peak between April 3 and 4, with significant weather activity forecast across multiple states.

Meteorologists have described the disturbance as “powerful,” driven by U-shaped jet stream patterns in the upper atmosphere, which are expected to intensify rainfall and hailstorm activity in parts of north and central India.

The IMD has said that Kashmir Valley could receive isolated heavy rainfall on April 3, while thunderstorms, lightning, and hailstorms are likely across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, and western Uttar Pradesh. The weather system is expected to extend its influence to central India, with unsettled conditions continuing till April 6.

Day temperatures across northwest India are likely to remain near normal or below normal during this period due to cloud cover and precipitation.

The development follows a series of western disturbances that have already brought unseasonal rain and hailstorms in March, damaging crops in several states, particularly in Punjab and Haryana where wheat harvesting is underway.

Experts say the unusual weather pattern is linked to changes in jet stream behaviour, which steer these moisture-laden systems from the Mediterranean region towards the Indian subcontinent. A wobbling or dipping jet stream can push more such disturbances into lower latitudes, increasing their frequency and intensity over northwest India.

Western disturbances are a key source of non-monsoon rainfall in northern India, but their increased frequency and intensity in recent weeks have raised concerns, particularly for agriculture and pre-summer weather stability.