The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated in a statement on Sunday that two western disturbances are anticipated to bring showers, thunderstorms, and gusty winds to the plains and snowfall to the higher elevations of the Himalayas this week. Though the wheat crop is ready for harvest in a few weeks, experts are concerned about lodging. Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are expected to get mild to moderate rainfall and snowfall from March 10–12. This is due to the current western disturbance. On March 13, there would be gusty wind and rains across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh, and north Rajasthan. on the same day, there will be another mild western disturbance that will bring snowfall and strong gusts to northwest India. Thunderstorms and lightning are likely over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan and Muzaffarabad on March 13, and over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on March 13-14, IMD said.”The wheat crops in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan will be affected if there is crop lodging due to gusty winds,” stated Bhudeva Singh Tyagi, principal scientist at the Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research. “In dry regions, wheat, gram, and mustard crops would be primarily impacted by hailstorms and unseasonal rain. “Traders in Rajasthan are concerned that unseasonal rains could affect wheat crop quality. Hailstorms and rain last week have caused a delay in crop harvesting. Rain may have an effect on wheat quality, according to CP Gupta of Rajasthan’s Chesta Enterprise.

(Source- www.msn.com)