An orange alert has been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for hailstorms in parts of Himachal Pradesh, warning of intense weather activity due to an approaching western disturbance.
According to senior scientist at the IMD Meteorological Centre, Shimla, Sandeep Kumar Sharma, the weather remained mostly dry across the state during the last 24 hours, but conditions are expected to change later in the day.
“During the last 24 hours, the weather stayed largely clear across Himachal Pradesh. However, a weather system will begin affecting the state from this evening,” Sharma said. He added that a fresh western disturbance is likely to reach Himachal Pradesh late at night and will affect districts such as Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Bilaspur and Shimla.
As per the IMD, light rainfall may start in isolated areas by evening and is likely to intensify during the night as the system becomes active. “Light rain may begin by evening, while weather activity is expected to increase overnight,” he said.
The IMD has issued an orange alert for hailstorms in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts. “An orange alert has been issued for hailstorms, and there is a possibility of thunderstorms along with hail activity in Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts,” Sharma said. He further said the impact of the weather system will become more visible on April 17.
“On April 17, districts including Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur may receive light to moderate rainfall at isolated places. Thunderstorm activity is also likely,” he said.
The IMD has also placed the plains and mid-hill districts under an orange alert for thunderstorms and lightning. Weather activity is likely to gradually weaken after April 18, though cloudy conditions and light rainfall may continue in mid-hill districts like Kangra, Kullu and Mandi. Another spell of rain is expected between April 20 and 21, after which weather conditions are expected to improve.
On temperatures, Sharma said maximum temperatures have increased in the state and are currently above normal levels.
“Temperatures have risen by around 1–2 degrees Celsius in the past 24 hours and are now 2–3 degrees above normal. Kangra recorded around 30°C, Shimla around 24°C, while Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Kangra are seeing temperatures close to 32°C,” he said. He said temperatures may rise further in the next 24 hours and no major drop is expected despite the incoming weather system.
“Temperatures may increase by another 2–3 degrees Celsius in the next 24 hours, and no significant fall is expected during the next 48 hours,” he said. The IMD also said Himachal Pradesh has received significantly higher rainfall so far this month.
“The state has recorded nearly 65 per cent excess rainfall in April so far. Only Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur have received below-normal rainfall, while most districts have seen normal to above-normal precipitation,” Sharma said. He noted that earlier western disturbance spells had already triggered hailstorms in vulnerable areas.
"Previous spells had brought hailstorm activity in areas like Kangra, Mandi, Palampur and parts of Shimla and Kullu, and similar conditions may recur due to the active system," he said.
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