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News18
21-05-2025
- Climate
- News18
Active Monsoon Ahead? What 'Unusual' Rain, Hailstorm In North India Could Mean
Last Updated: 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 . First Published: May 21, 2025, 22:29 IST News india Active Monsoon Ahead? What 'Unusual' Rain, Hailstorm In North India Could Mean
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
IMD debunks Cyclone Shakti speculations: No cause for alarm; all you need to know
In response to widespread speculation regarding the formation of a cyclone named "Cyclone Shakti," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a firm clarification, urging the public to remain calm and rely solely on official weather updates. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to the reports that were published earlier, a powerful cyclonic storm was forming over the Bay of Bengal and was expected to affect coastal areas of West Bengal and Odisha between May 23 and May 28. The identification of an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the Andaman Sea, a typical pre-monsoon weather occurrence, served as the basis for these reports. Read more: Habibur Rahman Biswas, head of the Forecast Centre at the Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata, explained that the confusion arose from a misinterpretation of meteorological terms. He explained that a cyclonic circulation refers to a rotation of air at higher altitudes, typically between 1.5 km and 7.6 km above the ground, and does not necessarily lead to the formation of a surface-level cyclonic storm. "Many people mistake any mention of the word 'cyclonic' as an imminent threat of a cyclone, which is not the case," Biswas stated. The IMD warned against spreading unconfirmed information and flatly rejected the existence of any such cyclone. No cyclone warnings have been issued by the agency as of yet. Press releases and official bulletins will be used to convey any official alerts regarding cyclone development. Read more: The department also highlighted the early onset of the southwest monsoon, which has advanced into parts of the Bay of Bengal, the south Andaman Sea, the Nicobar Islands, and sections of the north Andaman Sea as of May 13. This is the earliest recorded onset in the past seven years. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds in several regions, including Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, east Rajasthan, and parts of southern and central India. Residents and travelers are advised to stay informed through official channels such as the IMD website and the Mausam app. Relying on verified sources is crucial to avoid unnecessary panic and ensure safety during the pre-monsoon season.
Mint
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Mint
Fake ‘Cyclone Shakti' news sparks panic; met expert explains cyclonic circulation vs storm
In response to a wave of misinformation surrounding 'Cyclone Shakti,' the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a strong clarification, urging the public to remain calm and to recognise the crucial distinction between a cyclonic circulation and a cyclonic storm. The clarification follows the spread of unverified forecasts and social media posts falsely claiming the formation of a severe weather system. The IMD has categorically denied the existence of any such cyclone and cautioned against the dissemination of unverified information. Speaking to My Kolkata, Habibur Rahman Biswas, head of the Forecast Centre at the Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata, explained that the confusion largely stems from a misinterpretation of meteorological terminology. 'Many people mistake any mention of the word 'cyclonic' as an imminent threat of a cyclone, which is not the case,' Biswas said. He elaborated that cyclonic circulation refers to an upper-air phenomenon, where winds rotate in an anti-clockwise direction at altitudes ranging from 1.5km to 7.6km above the ground. 'This is what we call cyclonic circulation. It has an influence on weather patterns, but doesn't necessarily lead to a cyclone or have any severe impact on the ground,' he clarified. In contrast, a cyclonic storm is a well-defined, surface-level low-pressure system, characterised by significantly lower central pressure - often by more than 10 millibars - resulting in strong surface winds and potentially destructive weather. 'A cyclonic circulation is circulation of air at higher altitudes – generally not harmful, while a cyclonic storm is a surface-level, intense low-pressure system with high winds and potentially damaging effects. The misuse or misunderstanding of these terms can create unnecessary panic,' Biswas added. Emphasising the importance of relying on official sources, Biswas confirmed that 'as of now, the IMD has issued no cyclone warnings'. He assured that any indications of cyclone development would be formally communicated through official bulletins. Earlier this week, the IMD issued a statement urging media outlets and the public to refrain from spreading false or unverified weather information, warning that such actions only contribute to unnecessary fear and confusion.
