MeT forecasts rain and gusty winds in J&K

SRINAGAR — The Meteorological Centre Srinagar on Wednesday forecast generally cloudy weather with intermittent rain, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds across Jammu and Kashmir over the next several days, even as authorities warned of possible hailstorms and flash floods at isolated vulnerable locations.

Director Meteorological Department, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, told the news agency KNS that the weather is likely to remain partly to generally cloudy on June 17, with light rain, brief intense showers, thunder, lightning and gusty winds at many places, especially during the afternoon hours.

For June 18 to June 22, the forecast predicted generally cloudy conditions with one or two spells of light rain, brief intense showers, thunderstorms, hailstorms, lightning and gusty winds at many places across the Union Territory.

The weather from June 23 to June 25 is expected to be partly to generally cloudy, with light rain, brief intense showers, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds at a few places, the official added.

In an advisory, the MET Department asked orchardists to schedule spray operations during the early morning or morning hours. People were advised to avoid loose structures, electric poles, overhead wires and old trees during inclement weather. Boating activities and Shikara rides have been ordered suspended during thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds.

The department said hailstorms accompanied by brief intense showers may occur at isolated places over the next five days. It further cautioned that intense showers could trigger flash floods and mudslides at isolated vulnerable locations.