Unseasonal duststorm in Haryana as monsoon proceeds

New Delhi, June 29 (UNI) Monsoons advanced bringing heavy downpour in Jammu and Kashmir in the north and Karnataka in the South while an unseasonal duststorm followed by heavy downpour plunged Hissar town of Haryana into darkness this afternoon.

The duststorm which hit Haryana from Rajasthan side reduced visibility considerably, forcing vehicular traffic to move with headlights for about 40 minutes during the daytime. It was a weather change phenomenon was witnessed almost after a decade.

The Kabini and Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoirs in Karnataka received good inflows, due to incessant rain in the catchment areas of Kodagu district in the state and Wayanad in Kerala.

Rain occurred at most places in Kerala and at a few places in Lakshwadeep, with the Southern districts of the state receiving less showers.

A weather office report said, the Southwest Monsoon has advanced into some parts of Gujarat, entire Vidarbha, most parts of west Madhya Pradesh, entire east Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, east Uttar Pradesh, some parts of west Uttar Pradesh, entire Uttaranchal, parts of Himachal Pradesh and entire Jammu and Kashmir.

Rains were also experienced in entire east Uttar Pradesh some parts of west Uttar Pradesh and the entire Uttaranchal according to the Weather Office here.

The mercury dipped two degrees to seven degrees celsius below normal in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandgiarh.

The temperature settled at 35.7 degrees, three degrees below normal at Ambala and at 33.6 degrees, four degrees down, at Karnal.

In Punjab, the mercury declined seven degrees below normal with Amritsar and Ludhiana respectively recording 31.8 degrees and 33.0 degrees celsius. Amritsar also reported rainfall.

Moderate rain lashed mid and lower hills in Himachal Pradesh, plummeting the temperature. Shimla recorded 10.2 mm rain till morning today.

The mercury hovered four degrees below normal at Chandigarh recording 34.0 degrees and trace rainfall.

Yesterday's Western disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining Himachal Pradesh has moved away eastwards across western Himalayas. The induced upper air cyclonic circulation over north Rajasthan and adjoining Punjab and Haryana now lay over south east Haryana adjoining west Uttar Pradesh, extending upto 2.1 km above sea level. Another upper air cyclonic circulation over south-west Jammu and Kashmir and neighbourhood extended upto 2.1 km above sea level, the Weather Office said.

Moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers will occur at many places in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours, the Met Office said.

The monsoon however was playing truant in Kolkata which woke up to a very uncomfortable morning with a blazing sun beating down on the denizens.

UNI Team ARB RP VV2028