Heavy to very heavy rainfall lashed isolated places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and through Sunday to Monday morning while rain or thundershowers were recorded at many places over Karnataka and Lakshadweep; a few places over Rayalaseema, Kerala and Mahe; and at isolated places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Telangana, Konkan and Goa.

Cuddalore continued to be targeted for a second day on Sunday, with Cuddalore Collectorate recording very heavy rainfall of 12 cm and Cuddalore (city)-11 cm. Other significant centres recording moderate to heavy rain (in cm) are Tiruttani-7; Thenkasi-6; Tiruvannamalai-5; Nagapattinam, Puducherry and Karaikal-4 each; Coimbatore, Nilgiris and Tiruppur-3 each; Mahabalipuram, Erode, Villupuram, Coonoor, Goa (Panjim), Minicoy and Aminidivi (both Lakshadweep)-2 each, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Trough network crumbles

On Monday afternoon, however, a network of three troughs that oversaw the enhanced thunderstorm activity crumbled, leaving a lone cyclonic circulation standing guard over North Kerala. But it can sustain light to moderate rainfall at a few places with isolated thunderstorm and lightning over Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala and Mahe until Tuesday.

As unseasonal thunderstorms relent over the South, the scene shifts back to the plains and hills of North-West India with incoming western disturbances, principal weather-makers during winter, chugging in on a trot. The latest one was located over southern Iran on Monday and is expected to move into Afghanistan and Pakistan en route to North-West India's hills.

Thunderstorms, hail for hills

Even from this distance on Monday, the incoming western disturbance is expected to set up thunderstorms, lightning and hail at isolated places over Uttarakhand and with lightning at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday.

Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall/snowfall is forecast over Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh; isolated to scattered rainfall/snowfall over Himachal Pradesh for next three days and fairly widespread for subsequent two days; and isolated to scattered rainfall/snowfall over Uttarakhand during next five days.

Skymet sees longest snowy spell

Private forecaster Skymet said that the entire Himalayas would witness snowfall all through this week. Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will likely experience the longest season's most extended spell lasting till month-end.

The snowfall may spill over further into the first few days of March in the mid and higher reaches of Jammu & Kashmir. The bigger share of the proceedings would go to Jammu & Kashmir, while Uttarakhand would account for the least. Rain and snow will be intense between Wednesday and Friday.

Snowfall deficient to date

Srinagar, Qazigund, Banihal and the Vaishno Devi shrine may experience intermittent rain, while popular resorts of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Anantnag may witness moderate snowfall. Mountain peaks and passes would be snowed out for the week and even later. Manali, Keylong and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh are expected to be covered under a snow blanket, while snow in Uttarakhand could be restricted to the higher reaches.

The entire hills have been facing a large deficiency of snow this winter. Between January 1 and February 21, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand recorded a shortfall of 48 per cent, 68 per cent, and 54 per cent, respectively. The impending spell may help shrink the gap to some extent.

Light rain for foothills

Punjab's plains, Haryana and West Uttar Pradesh may experience light rainfall and limited to the foothills only, while interiors are likely to witness cloudy skies with fog and mist on all days. Light rain is expected over Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ambala and Panchkula. Delhi/NCR is not likely to have any rainfall during the week. Minimum temperatures (night) could marginally rise, but no significant change is expected in day temperatures.

Published on February 22, 2021