Thunderstorm, squalls likely in north India today

After the intense thunderstorm activity on Sunday that left more than 80 people dead, the Met office has predicted thunderstorms and gusty winds on Tuesday in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and east Uttar Pradesh.

As many as 80 died in five states due to thunderstorms and lightning strikes since Sunday, with Uttar Pradesh alone recording 51 deaths.

The Met office said parts of Rajasthan could also experience dust storms and isolated areas of West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and most of north east India can also expect thunderstorms and strong winds.

In south India, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, interior parts of south Karnataka, north Tamil Nadu and Kerala will see thunderstorm activity.

The weather turbulence will subside by Wednesday, however, a fresh round of scattered thundershowers may hit the Western Himalayan region, east India and south peninsular India early next week, the Met office forecast said.

In addition to storm warnings, the weather agency has issued an alert for a low pressure area that has developed over southwest Arabian sea and the cyclonic circulation resulting from it. The path of the low pressure area, that is likely to intensify into a depression, means it is unlikely to affect the Indian mainland. However, fishermen have been advised to remain clear of the southwest Arabian Sea.