Thunderstorms from May 13: IMD

After parts of North India experienced dust storm, thunderstorm and rainfall in the last 48 hours, the India Meteorological Department on Tuesday predicted another round of "widespread thunderstorm" activities in most parts of the country from May 13.

The occurrence of so many thunderstorms in a short span of time is due to the mingling of two different types of storms.

Local storms that are generated in the northwest and eastern India are mixed with western disturbance — a storm generated over the Mediterranean that carries moisture all the way from Europe and picks up more in its transit from the Arabian Sea.

"This time both systems are happening together. It is something that didn't happen earlier," K J Ramesh, IMD director general told DH.

The storms escaped Delhi and its satellite towns on Tuesday, but the three Himalayan states — Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand — were lashed by rainfall (snowfall in the upper reaches) accompanied by strong winds.

Rains were reported in parts of Haryana, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh.

IMD now predicts a fresh western disturbance in western Himalayas from Sunday onward.

This may be blended with "low-level cyclonic circulation" in southern states.

"Under the influence of the above two systems, widespread thunderstorm activities are likely very simultaneously over north-west, central, east, north-east and peninsular India from May 13 onwards," the Met office says in a forecast.

Moderate to light rainfall is predicted for 16 states and Union territories, including Karnataka.

While nor'wester in eastern India, dust storm in the west and pre-monsoon rains along the coast are common weather events, all of them received a booster dose this time from the western disturbances.

The storm that came on May 2-3 was a severe one as it killed at least 134 individuals and injured 400, according to a home ministry official.

With nearly 100 deaths, Uttar Pradesh was hit the hardest. More than 1,800 houses were damaged and 800 cattles were also killed.

Anticipating a repeat of this on May 7-8, the administration in Delhi and the adjoining states ordered the closure of many schools. The traffic police and metro in the city also geared up for any emergency.