The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a severe weather warning for several parts of the country for May 16, with forecasts of heavy rain, thunderstorms and b winds across nearly 15 states over the next 11 hours. Wind speeds in some areas may reach 80 to 85 kilometres per hour.
The weather department has advised residents, farmers and travellers to remain alert, as some regions may also witness hailstorms and lightning along with b winds.
According to meteorologists, a low-pressure area is currently active over the west-south and west-central Bay of Bengal and is gradually developing into cyclonic circulation. An upper air cyclonic circulation is also active over Madhya Pradesh and adjoining regions, causing sudden changes in weather conditions. The impact of these systems has led to unstable weather from northern India to eastern and central parts of the country.
In the national capital Delhi, cloudy skies are likely during the evening of May 16. Winds are expected to blow at speeds of 20 to 30 kilometres per hour. The maximum temperature is forecast at 39 degrees Celsius and the minimum at 28 degrees Celsius.
A warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms has been issued in Uttar Pradesh for May 16 and 17. Districts expected to be affected include Agra, Mathura, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Azamgarh, Sonbhadra, Mau, Ballia, Kaushambi, Fatehpur and Balrampur. Winds may reach speeds of 60 to 65 kilometres per hour during this period. Lucknow is expected to record temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius.
In Bihar, severe weather alerts have been issued for several districts including Gaya, Patna, Munger, Bhagalpur, Purnia and Darbhanga. Heavy rainfall and storms are expected, with wind speeds in some areas likely to reach 80 to 85 kilometres per hour. Patna is forecast to record a maximum temperature of 39 degrees Celsius.
Jharkhand is likely to witness heavy rain and winds of 50 to 60 kilometres per hour in districts including Bokaro, Jamshedpur, Ranchi and Hazaribagh.
In Uttarakhand, heavy rain and b winds have been forecast for mountainous areas including Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Nainital and Chamoli. Authorities have also warned of possible landslides in some locations.
Heavy rain and b winds of 70 to 80 kilometres per hour have also been forecast in Himachal Pradesh districts including Kangra, Mandi, Shimla and Chamba. Travel disruption is possible in hilly regions, and travellers have been advised to remain cautious.
Punjab is expected to witness heavy rain and thunderstorms in districts including Amritsar, Ludhiana and Bathinda.
In Rajasthan, b winds and rainfall are likely in Alwar, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Barmer and several other districts. Wind speeds may reach 50 to 60 kilometres per hour in many places.
Several parts of Madhya Pradesh may experience different weather conditions. Districts including Dhar, Rewa and Singrauli may witness hot winds and heatwave-like conditions. Bhopal is expected to record temperatures of up to 41 degrees Celsius.
