The weather in India is experiencing a multitude of changes as forecasted by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). In particular, central and east India are gearing up for rainfall and thunderstorms from February 13 to February 15. Severe weather conditions have prompted the IMD to issue an orange alert for parts of East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand on February 13, urging residents to remain indoors and take safety precautions against lightning and hailstorms. The advisory specifically warns against contact with concrete surfaces during thunderstorms.
Beyond the heavy rains forecasted for various regions such as East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand, other areas including Vidarbha, West Bengal, Sikkim, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh are also expecting wet conditions. A cyclonic circulation over Punjab could bring rainfall or snowfall to northern areas like Uttarakhand, as well as rain to Punjab, Haryana, and West Rajasthan. Meanwhile, the Western Himalayan Region is bracing for similar weather due to a Western Disturbance on February 17 and 18.
The IMD anticipates a rise in minimum temperatures by 2-4°C in northwest India and by 2-3°C over several parts of East India. Foggy conditions have affected visibility in regions like Amritsar, Paradip, Jabalpur, Delhi, Bihar, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Yanam, disrupting morning traffic and transport operations. Despite the wet weather, the IMD has also issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall up till February 13 in multiple states, with the possibility of hailstorms in East Madhya Pradesh and North Chhattisgarh on February 12. Commuters have had to navigate water-logged roads in some areas like Delhi, where rainfall has disrupted daily activities.
As temperatures fluctuate across the country, fishermen are also being cautioned about squally winds in marine areas such as the Comorin area and the Gulf of Oman adjoining the northwest Arabian Sea. Residents and travelers in northern plains have faced colder than usual temperatures, with the lowest minimum temperature recorded at 4.6°C in Amritsar.