An approaching western disturbance aligned with the latitude that passes through Himachal Pradesh but located beyond Afghanistan, was responsible for the 'killer squalls' in Rajasthan last night. It is expected to continue to wreak havoc as it navigates the rest of Afghanistan and Pakistan before it brings to bear its footprint over North-West India over the next three to four days.
'KILLER' DISTURBANCE
Associated moisture-laden winds are meeting with opposing easterlies blowing in from East and North-East India with their own trails of thunder squalls, high winds, and heavy rain.
Satellite maps show a pack of thunderstorms hunkering down into the rest of North-West India and East and North-East India, driving pre-monsoon weather to a peak over the next few days.
Dust storms in advance of the approaching western disturbance had wreaked havoc in Rajasthan last night, killing 27 persons, according to news agency reports.
The strong convergence of the winds are still continuing across the heated up land over the deserts of Rajasthan, causing strong updrafts and setting off violent weather.
VIOLENT WEATHER
An India Met Department (IMD) outlook said thunderstorms accompanied by squalls and hailstorms are likely to occur at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand today. Thunderstorms accompanied by squalls are likely at isolated places over Uttar Pradesh; thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are expected over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and East-Rajasthan.
Dust storms/ thunderstorms are likely at isolated places over West Rajasthan, even as heat wave conditions may prevail in some pockets of West Rajasthan and in one or two pockets over East Rajasthan.
This heating-up trend creates an area of lower pressure, into which winds from both sides are rushing in, forcing strong updrafts and violent weather, including dust storms.
FORECAST
The forecast for tomorrow: Thunderstorms accompanied by squalls and hailstorms are likely at isolated places over Uttarakhand. Thunderstorms accompanied by squalls are likely at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are likely at isolated places in Uttar Pradesh. Heat wave conditions may prevail over pockets of West Rajasthan and in one or two pockets over East Rajasthan.
Forecast for the day after: Thunderstorms accompanied by squalls and hailstorms are expected in isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are likely at isolated places over Uttarakhand. Heat wave conditions over some pockets of West Rajasthan and in one or two pockets over East Rajasthan.
This is even as 'tinder box' conditions prevail over large parts of East, North-East and Peninsular India.
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