Intense Pre-Monsoon Activity Over Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal: Hailstorm Likely
Representational Image: AI-Skymet
Key Takeaways:
- Pre-monsoon activity is expanding across central, eastern and northern India.
- Thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and hailstorms are likely in eastern states.
- Rain may partially reduce the March rainfall deficit in Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha.
- Weather expected to improve after March 21, 2026.
Pre-monsoon activity is increasing over many parts of the country. In the past 24 hours, North & Northwest India, Northeast India and the South Peninsula witnessed fairly widespread weather activity. Today also, a similar pattern is likely, but the activity will extend to cover parts of South Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha. More changes are anticipated for tomorrow and the day after. While intense weather may vacate some regions of the western parts and lessen over the South Peninsula tomorrow, the stretch of strong weather will extend all along the Indo-Gangetic plains and the eastern states of the country.
Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha have a significant deficit during March. Courtesy of weather activity over Northeast India and Bangladesh, the spillover effect has saved Gangetic West Bengal from any serious shortfall. The upcoming spell, albeit of short duration, may partially compensate the eastern states. However, rains will come with a risk of stormy weather at a few places over Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand.
There is a small-scale cyclonic circulation over East Uttar Pradesh and another one over Central Madhya Pradesh. The anticyclonic winds from the Bay of Bengal are bringing in a lot of moisture along and off the East Coast. The western disturbance and associated induced circulation over the plains will move eastward in the next 24 hours. This will further boost the likely activity over the eastern parts.
Rain and thundershowers are likely tomorrow over Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal. Typical pre-monsoon activity with thunderstorms and lightning is quite likely over large parts of these states. Moderate to heavy showers will be accompanied by strong gusty winds. This deadly combination for crops may further get accentuated with hailstorm activity at some places. Caution needs to be exercised to adopt safe measures against lightning strikes and hailstorms. Human exposure to field activity needs to be avoided at all costs, and utmost attention must be paid to guard against lightning strikes. Weather conditions are likely to improve the next day, on March 21, 2026.
