IMD issues orange alert for Uttarakhand, predicts heavy rainfall in many states

The weather department in its forecast for May 1 has said that "heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely at isolated places over ghat areas of Tamil Nadu and Rayalaseema". The India Meteorological Department also said that heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, coastal Andhra Pradesh, south interior Karnataka and Kerala.

The IMD also said hailstorm with lightning and gusty winds are likely over Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi, UP, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.

For Uttarakhand, the Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for bad weather in the state for the next four days from today. An alert has been issued for hailstorm and thunderstorm with a speed of 70 km per hour and heavy snowfall in areas above 3500 meters/


"It has been snowing intermittently for the last thirteen days in Kedarnath Dham. The snowfall process started in Dham on April 18 and the snowfall which started in the afternoon on Saturday also continued till night."

"The weather is not clear in Kedarnath even from this morning. Due to snowfall, it is getting cold in Kedarnath," added the release.

In Srinagar Garhwal, police have made checking points near NIT Uttarakhand and near Badrinath bus stand where Char Dham Yatris are being stopped and those who have online bookings for a night stay will be allowed to go towards Rudraprayag. But the passengers who have not booked the passes are being appealed to stay in Srinagar only,. Passengers are being appealed to continue their journey when the weather clears up.

IMD also said that thunderstorm with lightning accompanied by gusty winds speed reaching 30-40 Kmph is very likely at isolated places in Kerala from 2nd May to 4th May 2023.

For Tamil Nadu, IMD said: "Under the influence of a trough / wind discontinuity over southern peninsula, light to moderate rainfall at many / most places with isolated heavy rain, thunderstorm and lightning is likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during the next four days (30.04.2023 to 03.04.2023); isolated very heavy rain is also likely over north interior Tamil Nadu."