IMD Issues Thunderstorm, Lightning, and Hailstorm Alerts Across 15 States
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of severe thunderstorms, lightning, and hailstorms across several Indian states, urging residents to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel.
In a high-impact weather alert issued on Saturday, the IMD reported that regions spanning from East Rajasthan to Gangetic West Bengal are currently experiencing or are expected to witness dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning, strong winds, and hailstorms.
“Severe thunderstorms with dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning activity happening starting from East Rajasthan to West MP, East MP, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, and system approaching towards Gangetic West Bengal,” the IMD posted on X.
The department added that hailstorms are “likely throughout the whole belt” and advised the public to take “necessary precautions/actions.”
Isolated thunderstorms with high wind speeds of 50–60 kmph are forecast for Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and South Interior Karnataka.
IMD also flagged gusty winds of 40–50 kmph for parts of Himachal Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim, accompanied by thunderstorms.
In Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, several districts are on alert. “Thunderstorm with hail and lightning, gusty winds (40–50 kmph) and light rainfall likely at isolated places in Gondia, Bhandara, Nagpur, and Wardha districts,” IMD Nagpur said.
Similar warnings were issued for Amravati, Yavatmal, Washim, and Chandrapur districts, where gusty winds of 30–40 kmph may occur.
Heavy rainfall is also predicted at isolated places over Odisha and South Interior Karnataka, further compounding the weather-related risks for residents and local authorities.
Meanwhile, Delhi recorded its second-highest rainfall in 24 hours in over a century on Friday, with Lodhi Road logging 78 mm and Safdarjung Airport close behind at 77 mm.
“This is the highest recorded in May since 2021, when Delhi received 119.3 mm of rainfall on May 20,” IMD said.
India’s pre-monsoon season often sees abrupt and extreme weather events, including localized thunderstorms and hailstorms. However, the frequency and intensity appear to be rising, a trend meteorologists attribute in part to climate variability and warming.
In recent years, the IMD has stepped up real-time alerts via platforms like X (formerly Twitter), warning the public of lightning-prone areas through nowcasting techniques.
Citizens in the affected states are advised to avoid open areas during thunderstorms, stay indoors, and disconnect electrical appliances. Emergency services and disaster management authorities have also been alerted for potential response operations.
