The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather forecast warning of a heatwave and storm activity across India over the coming days.
The forecast highlights rising temperatures in several regions along with thunderstorms and strong winds in others.
Heatwave Conditions (March 16-18, 2025)
Severe heatwave conditions are expected to prevail in the interior regions of Odisha from March 16 to 18. Additionally, other parts of India will also experience heatwave conditions on the following dates:
• March 16 and 17: Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Vidarbha, and northern Telangana.
• March 16: Chhattisgarh.
• March 18-20: Northern interior Karnataka.
Thunderstorm and Heavy Rain Alerts (March 16-17, 2025)
• Strong winds, thunderstorms, and heavy rain or snowfall are expected in several parts of northeastern India.
• Arunachal Pradesh may experience isolated incidents of heavy rain and snowfall.
Thunderstorm and Rain Forecast (March 20-23, 2025)
• Parts of eastern and central India will likely see thunderstorms, strong winds, and scattered to widespread rainfall.
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Past 24-Hour Weather Summary (As of March 15, 2025, 08:30 IST)
Rain and Snowfall Reports
• Heavy to moderate rain/snowfall: Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh.
• Scattered rain/snowfall: Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim.
• Light to moderate rain: Assam, Lakshadweep, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, eastern Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
Storm and Wind Reports
• Thunderstorms with lightning: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim.
• Heavy to very heavy rain/snowfall: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh.
• Hailstorms: Uttarakhand.
• Strong winds: Assam.
Heatwave Reports
• Severe heatwave: Interior Odisha.
• Heatwave conditions: Several locations in Jharkhand, Vidarbha, and Chhattisgarh.
• Warm night conditions: Odisha and Jharkhand.
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Weather Systems and Forecasts
Cyclonic Circulations & Impact
• A cyclonic circulation over Northeast India is expected to cause scattered to widespread rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall in Arunachal Pradesh over the next week.
• A western disturbance over Northern Pakistan and Jammu & Kashmir will impact the weather in northern India.
March 16 Forecast:
• Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand: Isolated moderate rain/snowfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds (30-40 km/h).
• Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan: Isolated rain and thunderstorms, with winds reaching speeds of 30-40 km/h.
• Himachal Pradesh: Scattered moderate rain/snowfall, along with thunderstorms, lightning, and potential hailstorms.
March 20-23 Forecast:
• Eastern and central India: Thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds are likely, bringing scattered to widespread rainfall.
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Temperature Trends & Heatwave Forecast
Expected Temperature Changes
• Northwest India: Maximum temperatures will gradually rise by 2-4°C over the next 4-5 days.
• Central India: No major changes in the next 24 hours, followed by a 2-4°C drop over the next 3-4 days.
• Eastern India: No significant change for the next 48 hours; then, a slight drop of 2-3°C over the following three days.
Heatwave and Warm Night Conditions
• Severe heatwave: Expected in Odisha (March 16-18), Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Vidarbha, northern Telangana (March 16-17), Chhattisgarh (March 16), and northern interior Karnataka (March 18-20).
• Warm nights: Likely in Odisha (March 16-18), Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal (March 16-17), and Vidarbha (March 16).
• Hot and humid conditions: Expected in Gujarat’s coastal areas for the next five days and northern Karnataka (March 16-17).
The weather conditions across India remain highly dynamic, with ongoing heatwaves, storms, and rainfall impacting multiple regions. The IMD advises residents to stay updated with local weather reports and take necessary precautions.