IMD forecasts more thunderstorms, squalls and heavy winds across India over the next few days

The India Meteorological Department has forecast thunderstorms, squalls and heavy winds in several states over the next three to four days.

More than 115 people have died and dozens have been injured in squalls and sandstorms in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh since Wednesday evening. At least 10 died in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh following heavy rain on Thursday. Many people were also injured in these states, as well as in Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana.

A cyclonic circulation induced by a western atmospheric disturbance, high moisture levels and unusually high temperatures were responsible for the storms in the northern parts, IMD official Kuldeep Srivastava told the Hindustan Times. In the south, the rain was triggered by cyclonic circulation over central India and a depression over Lakshadweep.

“There is a high probability that winds will intensify in the next 48 hours in Rajasthan, which may lead to another dust storm,” IMD scientist Himanshu Sharma told PTI on Thursday. “It will affect areas of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan border, especially Karauli and Dholpur.”

According to the IMD forecast, thunderstorms, squalls and heavy winds are very likely in some places in Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, East Rajasthan, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and interior Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on Friday. West Rajasthan is likely to experience a dust storm, it said. Heavy rain is also likely at some places in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.

On Saturday, thunderstorms can be expected at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Odisha, Tripura and Kerala. Heavy rain is likely at some places in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, it said.