• Source:JND

Weather Update: After the retreat of the monsoon, a new western disturbance has triggered heavy rains across several northern states, causing widespread disruption. States including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Rajasthan are experiencing continuous rainfall.

The national capital witnessed several spells of light to moderate rain early Tuesday morning, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 30–40 km/h, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). On Monday, the IMD issued an orange alert for Punjab and Haryana, forecasting persistent rain over the next 36 hours.

Agricultural damage is mounting, with paddy crops flattened and sugarcane and potato fields also affected. The weather department has issued orange and yellow alerts for multiple regions, warning of light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, strong winds, and even hailstorms.

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Why the Sudden Rain?

According to Mahesh Palawat, Vice President (Meteorology & Climate Change) at Skymet Weather, two major factors are behind this abrupt change:

⦁ Moist winds from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are colliding, leading to widespread rainfall.

⦁ A western disturbance active over central Pakistan and Punjab is causing rain across northern India and snowfall in the hills.

Delhi-NCR and Western UP Lashed by Rain & Hail

Rainfall that began late Sunday night continued through Monday in Delhi and surrounding areas. Several districts in western Uttar Pradesh, including Moradabad, Rampur, Sambhal, Amroha, and Bijnor, experienced rain, lightning, and hail from Monday afternoon onwards. Visuals from Indira Gandhi International Airport indicated that there was light rain.

For Tuesday, the minimum temperature is expected to be near normal, while the maximum temperature is likely to be above normal by 1-2 degree C. The predominant surface winds are expected to blow from the north-northeast direction at speeds of up to 15 kmph during the morning.

In Bilari (Moradabad), two people including a woman working in the fields were killed by lightning. Bareilly also reported hailstorms in some areas.

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Rivers Overflow In Bihar, Thousands Affected

Light showers were also reported in Meerut, Lucknow, and nearby areas. In Bihar, continuous rainfall over the past 2–3 days has caused rivers like the Kosi, Kamla Balan, and Jivachh to overflow.

At Baltara in Khagaria, the Kosi River has crossed the danger mark. In Madhubani district’s Madhwapur block, the Dhauns River embankment has broken, flooding around half a dozen villages and affecting approximately 50,000 people.

A section of the main Sugauli-Raxaul road has caved in. In Bettiah (West Champaran), floods have impacted 18 villages and around 25,000 people, damaging nearly 25,000 acres of paddy and sugarcane crops.

In Tariani Chapra (Sheohar), signs of leakage have been observed in the embankment. In Sitamarhi, floods have affected 14 villages and about 65,000 people, while in Darbhanga, 18 villages and around 36,000 residents are impacted as river levels continue to rise.

First Snowfall Covers Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath

In Uttarakhand, heavy rain with thunder and lightning continued across both the hills and plains. On Monday, high-altitude areas such as Badrinath and Kedarnath received the season’s first snowfall. The peaks of Gangotri and Yamunotri are now blanketed in snow, while Hemkund Sahib recorded nearly half a foot.

Punjab, Rajasthan Hit by Rain; Farmers Suffer Losses

In Punjab, rain in multiple districts has disrupted paddy harvesting and soaked produce already delivered to markets. The highest rainfall in the state 41.5 mm was recorded in Pathankot.

Rajasthan also saw heavy downpours, especially in Bikaner, Kota, and Udaipur divisions. Bhainsrorgarh (Chittorgarh) in eastern Rajasthan reported 100 mm, while Rawatsar (Hanumangarh) in the west saw 67 mm of rainfall.

Chilly October In J&K and Himachal, Like December

Rain and snowfall have led to a sharp drop in temperatures in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, making October feel like December. In Himachal, maximum temperatures have fallen by up to 19°C, and vehicular movement was halted at Rohtang Pass.

In Jammu & Kashmir, snowfall continued on high peaks such as Gulmarg, while lower regions, including Jammu and Srinagar, experienced two consecutive days of rain.

A landslide occurred in Katra on the battery car route to the Vaishno Devi shrine, though the pilgrimage had already been suspended.