Southwest monsoon set to progress further in next 3-4 days: IMD

New Delhi: The southwest monsoon is likely to further advance into some parts of the Bay of Bengal and the Maldives and Comorin areas over the next three to four days, according to India Meteorological Department. A fresh western disturbance is also expected to sweep across northwest India, extending until Thursday, the weather bureau added.

This system could bring light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds, to potential hailstorms over Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday and Thursday. Hailstorm is likely over Uttarakhand till Friday. The weather bureau expects thundersquall in Rajasthan and heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir today.

Thundershowers with strong wind is likely to occur over several parts in Delhi, east Delhi, New Delhi, north Delhi, northeast Delhi, south Delhi, southwest Delhi in next 24 hours.

Some regions of Punjab, along with several areas in Haryana, are bracing for similar conditions, including thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph on Wednesday and Thursday. Northern Haryana is anticipated to face a similar climate on Wednesday.

Amid the forecasts, IMD's crop advisory unit, Agromet, has issued guidelines to the farmers of Haryana and Punjab, advising them to complete the sowing of paddy nursery in compliance with the recommended periods and varieties. The recommended rice varieties include PR121 to PR131 and HKR 47. 

Cotton farmers have been instructed to eliminate weeds to hinder the spread of whitefly into cotton fields. Agromet advised cane farmers to apply fertiliser and irrigation as per requirement and depending on weather during next four days.

Paddy, cotton, and sugarcane, the primary crops of the kharif season, are cultivated in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. The kharif season traditionally spans from June to October, and are usually sown at the beginning of the first showers after the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala on 1 June.

The western disturbance may also cause light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds over Kerala, Lakshadweep in the next five days. IMD sees heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu and some parts of Karnataka from Wednesday to Sunday.