States » NorthPosted at: Oct 12 2026 9:48AM


IMD warns of thunderstorms, 60 kmph winds in Haryana, Delhi and Punjab; widespread rain forecast in northern hills

Panchkula, Oct 12 (UNI) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds across Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab over the next four days, with wind speeds reaching 50–60 kmph at isolated places, as an active western disturbance continues to influence weather conditions across northwestern India.
In its All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin issued at 8.02 am on Monday, the IMD predicted rainfall across several northern states between October 12 and 18, with fairly widespread to widespread precipitation expected in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab on specified days.
According to the department, isolated thunder squalls with wind speeds reaching 50–60 kmph are very likely over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh on October 12. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph are also expected at isolated places in Punjab.
The weather department said thunderstorm activity accompanied by lightning and gusty winds would continue over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab until October 15, raising concerns about possible disruption to normal activities, particularly in areas exposed to strong surface winds.
The IMD's day-wise forecast indicates that thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph are very likely at isolated places across Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab on October 13 and 14. Similar conditions are likely to persist on October 15.
Rainfall is forecast at scattered places across Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi from October 12 to 15, while Punjab is expected to experience scattered rainfall from October 12 to 14, followed by fairly widespread rainfall on October 15.
The department's seven-day rainfall forecast indicates predominantly dry weather across Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab from October 16 to 18.
The IMD attributed the prevailing weather conditions partly to a western disturbance persisting as a cyclonic circulation over Himachal Pradesh and adjoining northern Haryana, extending between 1.5 and 5.8 kilometres above mean sea level.
An associated trough in the upper tropospheric westerlies extends approximately along longitude 77 degrees east, north of latitude 27 degrees north, at an altitude of 7.6 kilometres.
Additional cyclonic circulations over central Pakistan and eastern Rajasthan are also persisting, according to the meteorological analysis based on observations recorded at 5.30 am.
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir to receive widespread rainfall
The weather department predicted a significant increase in rainfall activity across the western Himalayan region during the coming days.
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are expected to receive fairly widespread to widespread rainfall on October 13 and 15, while Himachal Pradesh is likely to experience similar conditions on October 14 and 15.
Scattered rainfall is forecast across Himachal Pradesh on October 12 and 13, followed by isolated precipitation from October 16 to 18.
The IMD also predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh between October 12 and 15 and across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from October 13 to 16.
Uttarakhand is expected to receive rainfall throughout the forecast period, with scattered precipitation on October 15 and 16.
The latest observations indicate that substantial rainfall has already occurred across parts of northern India.
According to the IMD, rainfall was recorded at most places in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand during the observation period from 8.30 am on October 11 to 5.30 am on October 12.
Rainfall was also recorded at many places across Jammu and Kashmir, western Uttar Pradesh and western Rajasthan.
The department reported heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, with Jammu recording 19 centimetres of rainfall during the observation period.
Farmers advised to suspend irrigation, protect harvested crops
With rainfall and strong winds forecast across Punjab and Haryana, the IMD has issued agricultural advisories to minimise damage to standing crops and harvested produce.
The department advised farmers in both states to withhold irrigation in standing crops and make arrangements to drain excess rainwater from agricultural fields.
Farmers have also been advised to shift harvested produce to safer locations or cover it with tarpaulin sheets to prevent damage from rain and strong winds.
The bulletin recommends securing harvested crops and providing mechanical support to horticultural plantations, vegetables and young fruit-bearing plants to minimise the possibility of lodging during gusty weather.
The weather department cautioned that strong winds could break tree branches, damage vulnerable structures and disrupt power and communication lines.
People have been advised to remain indoors during intense thunderstorms, close windows and doors, avoid unnecessary travel and refrain from taking shelter beneath trees during lightning activity.
The department also advised people to unplug electrical appliances during thunderstorms and to avoid contact with water bodies and electrically conductive objects.
While northwestern India faces thunderstorms and gusty winds, the IMD has predicted heavy rainfall at isolated places across Kerala, Mahe, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal between October 16 and 18.
Rainfall activity is expected to intensify across Kerala and Mahe from October 15, with fairly widespread to widespread rainfall forecast until October 18.
Similar widespread rainfall conditions are predicted over Lakshadweep and southern interior Karnataka between October 16 and 18.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, are likely across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal from October 12 to 15.
Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep may experience comparable gusty conditions on October 14 and 15.
The IMD warned that heavy rainfall in southern India could cause localised waterlogging, flooding of low-lying areas, disruption to road and rail traffic and damage to vulnerable structures and agricultural plantations.
In another significant meteorological development, the IMD said a low-pressure area is likely to develop over the southeast Bay of Bengal around October 13.
The department reported that an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the south Andaman Sea and adjoining areas, extending up to 9.4 kilometres above mean sea level, persisted.
The anticipated low-pressure system is expected to form under the influence of this circulation.
Meanwhile, an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the northwest Bay of Bengal, adjoining the West Bengal and northern Odisha coasts, has shifted towards southern Bangladesh and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal.
A trough extending from the northwest Bay of Bengal towards eastern Uttar Pradesh, across northern Odisha, Jharkhand, and southwestern Bihar, is also influencing regional weather conditions.
The IMD forecast isolated rainfall across Odisha from October 12 to 18, while Bihar is expected to receive rainfall on October 12 and again from October 15 to 18.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30–40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, are likely at isolated places in Bihar between October 16 and 18.
In northeastern India, rainfall is forecast across Assam and Meghalaya from October 13 to 18, Arunachal Pradesh from October 15 to 18 and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura throughout the seven-day period.
Southwest monsoon withdrawal likely to advance
The meteorological department said conditions were becoming favourable for further withdrawal of the southwest monsoon from additional parts of eastern India, the northern peninsula and several parts of northeastern India during the next two days.
The current withdrawal line passes through Supaul, Ranchi, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Bijapur, Hyderabad, Belagavi and Panjim, extending towards the Arabian Sea.
Despite the ongoing withdrawal process, several weather systems continue to produce rainfall across different regions of the country.
The IMD also reported that minimum temperatures remained markedly above normal at isolated places in Punjab, Assam and Meghalaya and eastern Uttar Pradesh on October 11.
Minimum temperatures were appreciably above normal at a few places in Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh.
Rajkot in Gujarat recorded the country's highest reported maximum temperature of 38.9 degrees Celsius, while Haflong in Assam registered the lowest minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius over the plains of India.
The department advised residents, farmers and local authorities in affected regions to remain alert to changing weather conditions and follow updated forecasts and warnings.
The IMD's daily weather warnings are valid from 8.30 am on the specified date until 8.30 am the following day.
UNI KK ARN
Tags: #IMD warns of thunderstorms# 60 kmph winds in Haryana# Delhi and Punjab; widespread rain forecast in northern hills
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