Hailstorm with gusty winds and light showers lashed Nagpur as well as Vidarbha on Sunday. Due to hailstorm, crops in many talukas in Vidarbha were also damaged. Gadchiroli, Nagpur, Amravati, Chandrapur and Wardha districts on Sunday reported strong winds accompanied by hailstorm. India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued ‘yellow alert’ in Vidarbha for Sunday and Monday. According to a meteorologist, “The chances of hailstorm with light rains will remain in some parts of Vidarbha on Monday also. Rain and gusty winds during winter season is a common occurence, which has slightly reduced in last few years.” The weather will remain cloudy till February 15 and thereafter, the temperature will start increasing, said the meteorologist.

 

In Nagpur district, Kamptee, Katol, Kuhi, Umred and Saoner talukas witnessed hailstorm on Sunday with strong winds. Uprooting of trees was also witnessed at many places in the city including Sakkardara, Cotton Market, Zingabai Takli and Pardi. Due to these weather activities, the farmers’ faced crop loss in all talukas of Vidarbha. Apart from this, no life or property loss was reported in Nagpur district due to hailstorm and thunderstorm. The hailstorm took place around 1.45 am on Sunday. The farmers noticed the crop loss on the next morning. On Sunday, the weather was cloudy throughout the day all over Vidarbha. Due to cloudy weather, no major changes were observed in day temperature whereas the minimum temperature increased all over Vidarbha.

 

Washim observed the highest maximum temperature with 34.6 degrees Celsius followed by Akola (34.2 degrees Celsius). Buldhana (33.6 degrees Celsius), Yavatmal (33.0 degrees Celsius), Amravati (31.8 degrees Celsius), Gadchiroli (31.6 degrees Celsius), Bramhapuri (31.2 degrees Celsius), Chandrapur (31.2 degrees Celsius), Wardha (31.0 degrees Celsius), and Nagpur (30.6 degrees Celsius) recorded maximum temperature above 30 degrees mark. Gondia recorded the lowest maximum temperature on Sunday with 28.9 degrees Celsius. Chandrapur recorded the lowest minimum temperature wirth 16.4 degrees Celsius and Akola had the highest minimum temperature with 20.3 degrees Celsius on Sunday. Other places in Vidarbha recorded the minimum temperature below 20 degrees Celsius mark.