NEW DELHI: A severe western disturbance is expected to cause heavy rain and snowfall in some areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh during the next two to three days, according to a “orange” notice from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday. According to the IMD, this is the first severe western disturbance of the season and will have an impact on northwest and central India through October 17. Weather phenomena known as Western disturbances, which have their origins in the Mediterranean, bring unusually heavy rainfall to northwest India. Under the influence of the western disturbance, Punjab may expect heavy rain on Monday.During this time, regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, west Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan are expected to see thunderstorms and lightning. Under the influence of the western disturbance, a cyclonic circulation has formed over central Pakistan and the surrounding areas. With the potential to combine with a new western disturbance on October 15, the IMD predicted that it will likely become even more intense. It is anticipated that this system will absorb moisture from the Arabian Sea, increasing rainfall intensity and dispersion over northwest India at the same time.
After the western disturbance has passed, dry northwesterly winds from the Himalayas are anticipated to dominate over northwest India in lower tropospheric levels. Temperatures in the area are therefore expected to drop by 2 to 4 degrees starting on October 17. For weather warnings, the IMD utilises four colour codes: green (no action required), yellow (watch and remain updated), orange (be prepared), and red (take action).
