Rain, thundershowers likely this week: Met

New Delhi, Feb 17 (IANS) The weather department here on Sunday predicted light rain and thundershowers for the coming days as another western disturbance is about to hit the northwest plains, including Delhi-NCR on Monday.

As per the IMD weather bulletin, the western disturbance will result in moderate to light scattered rainfall over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, north Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh till February 21.

"There will be moderate fog on Monday morning, with a generally cloudy sky and strong surface winds sweeping the national capital throughout the day. There is also a possibility of light rain or thundershowers towards the afternoon or evening," an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.

The Met department has also warned of isolated heavy rain or snow over Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh on February 20-21.

"Fairly widespread rain or snow would occur in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh and scattered to fairly widespread rain or snow would occur in Uttarakhand over the next five days. But the intensity of the rain or snow would be high on February 20-21," it said.

In the Delhi-NCR, rain and thundershowers might continue till February 22 with the minimum temperature rising a few notches above the normal. "The minimum temperature is expected to hover between 12 degree Celsius and 15 degree Celsius, which is 2-3 notches above the normal, while the maximum might remain around 22-24 degree Celsius," the IMD said.

There is also a slight possibility of hailstorm, accompanied by rain and thundershowers over isolated parts of the Delhi-NCR on February 21.

The minimum temperature on Sunday was 10.5 degree Celsius, a notch below the season's normal, while the maximum was 21.9 degree Celsius, two notches below the season's normal.