Active Monsoon Ahead? What 'Unusual' Rain, Hailstorm In North India Could Mean
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The IMD said the sudden weather change was due to a cyclonic circulation over Haryana, which was strengthened by moisture feed taking place from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
Before Delhi-NCR experienced a sudden weather shift from sweltering heat to dust storms followed by rain and then hail, parts of Punjab, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh witnessed similar conditions.
Rising temperatures and high humidity levels dipped while unseasonal thunderstorms and rain brought relief to northern India. It 'felt like" 50 degrees Celsius in the daytime and, within hours, the temperatures sharply dipped to settle between 30 and 37 degrees Celsius in the affected region.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the unusual and unseasonal early rains are due to shifting weather patterns and could signal an active monsoon season ahead. The sudden weather change was due to a cyclonic circulation over Haryana, which was further strengthened by moisture feed taking place from both the Arabian Sea as well as the Bay of Bengal, it said.
Explaining further, the IMD said the cyclonic circulation over Haryana and its neighbouring areas is embedded in an east-west trough extending from Punjab to Bangladesh in the lower tropospheric levels, is influencing the weather. Moisture is feeding into the system from both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, it added.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said a cyclonic circulation over Haryana and its neighbouring areas, embedded in an east-west trough extending from Punjab to Bangladesh in the lower tropospheric levels, is influencing the weather. Moisture is feeding into the system from both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, it added.
The southwest monsoon is likely to set over Kerala during the week of May 22 to May 28. There is also the possibility of the simultaneous advance of the southwest monsoon over Northeast India during the same period.
The weather department had already explained that an 'upper cyclonic circulation" is likely to develop over the Arabian Sea that would lead to rain to several Indian states. Moving from the South and Northeast towards North India. The impact is likely to start on May 20 and continue till May 23.
Not a 'cyclone'
The word 'cyclonic", however, does not necessarily mean there will be an imminent cyclone, officials have clarified in response to widespread misinformation on social media. Habibur Rahman Biswas, head of the forecast centre at Kolkata, has been quoted as saying, 'Many people mistake any mention of the word 'cyclonic' as an imminent threat of a cyclone, which is not the case."
'This 'cyclonic circulation' is circulation of air at higher altitudes, which is generally not harmful, while a 'cyclonic storm' is at the surface level… with high winds and potentially damaging effects," he was quoted further.
Hailstorms Lash Parts of Himachal, Met Issues 'orange' Alert for Thunderstorms in 8 Districts
Shimla: Light rains, thunderstorms and hailstorms lashed several parts of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, the weather office said.
Strong velocity rains accompanied by lightning, thunder and intermittent showers lashed Shimla with dark convective clouds covering its skies, reducing visibility to a few meters and disrupting traffic movement.
The power supply was also affected in some places in the state capital.
Palampur was lashed by a hailstorm, while Sundernagar, Bhuntar, Palampur, Murari Devi and Baijnath were hit by thunderstorms. Gusty winds lashed Kufri and Shimla, the Met said.
Palampur received 24 mm rain, followed by Raipur Maidan (20.4), Jogindernagar (8), Sujanpur Tira (7.8), Baijnath (7), Nahan (4.8) and Una (3).
According to the local meteorological station's 'orange' alert, isolated places in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts can witness thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hail and gusty wind with a speed of 50-60 kmph on May 24 and 25.
It also predicted light rainfall at isolated places over mid and lower hills and plains from May 21 to 23, and at some places over high hill areas of the state from May 24 to 27.
Meanwhile, maximum temperatures rose marginally in lower hills, and Una was hottest with a high of 41 degrees Celsius, followed by Neri (39.2), Bilaspur (38.7) and Hamirpur (38). PTI BPL AMJ AMJ AMJ
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First Published:
May 21, 2025, 22:29 IST
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