Thunderstorms likely in Rajasthan, UP, Punjab, Delhi; top 10 developments

After some quiet on Thursday and Friday, another set of thunderstorms is likely to hit India's northwestern plains on Saturday, the Met department said. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), regions including northern Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and parts of Uttarakhand will be affected. Thunderstorms, along with squall are also very likely at isolated places over Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura as well, added the IMD. Isolated places in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Odisha, northwest Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Rayalaseema, north coastal Andhra Pradesh, interior Tamil Nadu and Kerala are very likely to experience thunderstorm along with gusty winds. Heavy rains are very likely at isolated places over Tamil Nadu and Kerala, while dust storm and thunderstorm very likely at isolated places over Rajasthan.

The home ministry has also issued an advisory for Saturday, saying thunderstorm accompanied with squall are very likely at isolated places in Uttarakhand, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.

"We are expecting a western disturbance to approach the hill region on May 5. This will have an effect on north-western plains,” IMD senior scientist M Mahapatra said. "The intensity of the thunderstorm could only be predicted two hours prior to the activity," Mahapatra added.