Nagpur: The Second Capital of Maharashtra experienced an unexpected onslaught from Mother Nature as high-intensity rains, hail, thunderstorms, and lightning struck parts of Nagpur in the month of May. This surprising turn of events brought relief from the scorching summer heat but also left behind a trail of havoc and disruption, on Tuesday evening.
The day began with partly cloudy weather, which gradually intensified humidity levels as the morning progressed. Despite the cloud cover, the afternoon saw a dominance of summer heat, contributing to discomfort among residents. However, around 4 pm, the atmosphere underwent a rapid transformation as thunderstorms rolled in accompanied by gusty winds. These initially mild winds escalated into heavy rainfall across various parts of the city. Furthermore, some areas were also pelted with hail, adding to the intensity and unpredictability of the weather event.
The sudden onslaught of inclement weather conditions took many by surprise, resulting in disruption to daily activities and posing challenges to infrastructure and transportation networks. The heavy rainfall and hailstorms potentially caused damage to crops, vehicles, and property in affected areas. Additionally, the accompanying thunderstorms and lightning raised concerns for public safety, prompting residents to seek shelter indoors.
In the last two days, the maximum temperature of Nagpur city was 43.0 C and 42.6 C whereas, due to cloudy weather and rains in the evening on Tuesday, the temperature dropped by 4 degree Celsius as the city reported temperature of 38.1degree Celsius. India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted thunderstorms, hailstorms, and moderate rains with lightning on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Weather Department predicted, “Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, gusty wind (speed reaching up to 40-50 kmph) and hailstorm are very likely to occur at isolated places over Vidarbha during May 7 to 9.”
The Weather Department also issued a ‘yellow alert’ all over Vidarbha for the next 3-4 days and Nagpur will also witness the same weather in the evening. A cyclonic circulation lies over northeast Madhya Pradesh and neighbourhood 1.5 km above mean sea level. Whereas a trough from South Jharkhand to West Madhya Pradesh now runs from North Interior Odisha to southeast Rajasthan across Chhattisgarh and MadhyaPradesh at 0.9 km above mean sea level.
Due to these weather developments, the weather will change in the coming days. On Tuesday, Nagpur witnessed 4.2 mm rainfall whereas Chandrapur witnessed 11 mm, Bramhapuri 7.2 mm and Gondia1mm. Akola onceagain witnessed highest maximum temperature in Vidarbha with 43.7C,followed by Washim (43.4C), Wardha (43.0C), Amravati (42.8C), Yavatmal (42.5C), Chandrapur (42.4C), Buldhana(40.2C).Brahmapuri, Gadchiroli, Gondia and Nagpur recorded the maximum temperature below 40.0 degree Celsius mark on Tuesday due to cloudy weather and rains.
Conclusion: The May storm in Nagpur serves as a reminder of nature’s unpredictability and the need for preparedness in the face of such weather events. While the rainfall brought respite from the sweltering heat, it also underscored the importance of resilience and adaptation in the community. As the city navigates the aftermath of this unexpected weather phenomenon, efforts towards recovery and restoration are paramount to mitigate any further impacts on residents and infrastructure.
