Rain, Thunderstorms and Hail Likely Till March 20; Unseasonal Weather Hits Standing Rabi Crops

Unseasonal weather across North India has brought a temporary reprieve from rising temperatures, but it has also raised concerns for farmers as rain, thunderstorms and hailstorms damage standing Rabi crops ready for harvest.

A fresh western disturbance is currently active over the region, triggering widespread weather changes. While higher reaches of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are witnessing fresh spells of snowfall, the plains have recorded a noticeable dip in temperatures.

According to forecasts, the system will continue to influence weather conditions over the next two to three days. On March 19 and 20, light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms is expected across several parts of Delhi-NCR, Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Higher altitude areas may receive heavy snowfall during this period.

Interestingly, the western Himalayan region, which faced a prolonged snowfall deficit during December and January, is now experiencing renewed snowfall activity, indicating a shift in seasonal patterns. Daytime temperatures across North India are likely to remain below normal over the coming week, with no immediate heatwave conditions expected.

Weather data shows that the lowest minimum temperature in the plains was recorded at 12.5°C in Faridkot, Punjab, while the highest maximum temperature a day earlier touched 39.8°C in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, highlighting sharp regional variations.

The Meteorological Department has warned of scattered thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds across the western Himalayan belt and adjoining northwestern plains until March 20. Isolated heavy rain or snowfall is also likely over Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on March 19 and 20.

Hailstorm Threat Looms Across Regions

Hailstorms are expected to impact multiple states over the next few days. Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh may witness hail on March 18-19, followed by Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and eastern Rajasthan on March 19-20. Isolated events are also likely in western Rajasthan (March 19) and eastern Uttar Pradesh (March 20).

Central and eastern India are also likely to remain under the influence of unstable weather conditions until March 22. Hailstorm activity is forecast in Vidarbha (March 18), Chhattisgarh (March 18-19), eastern Madhya Pradesh (March 19-20), Odisha (March 19-21), Jharkhand and western Madhya Pradesh (March 20), and West Bengal and Sikkim (March 20-21).

Standing Crops Bear the Brunt

While the drop in temperature has eased heat stress, the unseasonal rain and hail have adversely affected standing Rabi crops. After an unusually warm spell in late February and early March, farmers are now reporting damage to key crops such as wheat and mustard. Mustard crops, particularly those ready for harvest in Haryana and Punjab, have suffered significant losses due to hailstorms and strong winds, raising concerns over both yield and quality.