Dust Storm was observed at various areas of Northern India (Source: PTI)

New Delhi:

Under heavy criticism for issuing an alert for a thunderstorm that triggered panic among people in North India, especially in Delhi, the Met department on Wednesday said that the wind speed observed was well within the range of what was in the forecast.

Thunderstorm was observed at a few places over Himachal Pradesh, at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana west Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Rajasthan and Delhi, read a statement issued by India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Due to Western Disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir and surrounding areas and a cyclonic circulation over Haryana and neighbourhood, the following weather has been reported during the past 24 hours:

1. Moderate to light rainfall occurred at various places over Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Rajasthan and few places over Punjab.

2. A thunderstorm happened at various places over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh and West Rajasthan.

3. Duststorm occurred at Haryana, East Rajasthan, Delhi and few areas of Uttar Pradesh.

The current weather forecast:

1. The disturbance located over Jammu and Kashmir is likely to shift eastwards during next 24 hours.

2. A circulation of cyclone in lower levels of Haryana and neighbourhood is predicted. It would shift towards West Uttar Pradesh during the next 24 hours.

3. A fresh disturbance is likely to affect western Himalayan region from 13th May.

4. Under the influence of above two systems, widespread thunderstorm activity very likely simultaneously over northwest, central, east, northeast and peninsular India from 13th onwards.

Weather forecast for the next 3 days:

Weather forecast for 10th May 2018:

1. Thunderstorm accompanied with squall (wind speed reaching 50-70 kmph) is likely to hit at isolated places over West Bengal.=

2. Hot weather condition likely over Rajasthan and Maharashtra with heatwave conditions.

3. Heavy rain very likely at isolated places over south Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Weather forecast for 11th May 2018:

1. Heavy rain very likely at areas over South Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

2. Hot weather condition likely over Rajasthan and Maharashtra with heatwave conditions at one or two pockets over Vidarbha and Rajasthan.

Weather forecast for 12th May 2018:

1. Heavy rain likely at places over South Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

2. Hot weather condition likely over Rajasthan and Maharashtra with heatwave conditions at one or two pockets over Vidarbha and Rajasthan.

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