Hailstorm on cards, orange alert in Haryana's 8 districts

Hisar, February 19

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued orange alert in eight districts and yellow alert for rest of Haryana for tomorrow and yellow alert for the state on February 21 in view of the possibility of thunderstorm coupled with dusty winds and hailstorm in some parts of the state due to Western Disturbance over the next two days.

Winds a cause for concern

Rain will definitely be beneficial for the crop. But the possibility of hailstorm and gusty winds is a cause for concern. Strong winds coupled with rain and hail could flatten the standing wheat crop, hitting production. — Dr Om Prakash Bishnoi, Wheat scientist

The orange alert, predicting thunderstorm/lightning with hail and gusty winds at speed of 40-50 kmph, has been issued for the districts of Panchkula, Ambala,Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Karnal, Sonepat and Panipat. Yellow alert has been issued for the rest of the districts.

However, above-average temperature was registered across the state today as daytime temperature was at an average of 2.9°C above normal. The maximum daytime temperature of 31.6°C was registered in Narnaul town of Mahendragarh which was 6.8°C above normal. The lowest maximum temperature was recorded in Karnal (22.4°C). The lowest minimum temperature was recorded in Mahendragarh at 10.2°C.

The farmers hope that light showers would be beneficial for the rabi crops, especially wheat. Dr Om Prakash Bishnoi, wheat scientist of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University (HAU), said that increase in the day and night temperature is good for the wheat crop at this stage.

“Rain will definitely be beneficial for the crop. But the possibility of hailstorm and gusty winds is a cause for concern. Strong winds coupled with rain and hail could flatten the standing wheat crop, hitting production,” he said. Dr Bishnoi, however, said that with the increase in the temperature, there will be little chances of yellow rust affecting the wheat crop. He said that in case of high temperatures in March, there is a possibility of brown rust in some parts of central India.