New Delhi, 20 March (H.S.): Light rain has drenched the capital since early Friday morning thanks to a western disturbance stirring up the weather with the India Meteorological Department forecasting intermittent showers across Delhi-NCR all day under overcast skies.

IMD noted Thursday that this system would keep Friday wet just like recent days with temperatures already dropping six to seven degrees from the drizzle and gusts battering plains from Delhi to beyond while heavy snow blankets hills. Expect tough days ahead for Uttar Pradesh Bihar and Kashmir through the weekend as rabi crops face hail risks in western UP and Punjab alongside dust storms at 50-60 km/h and lightning threats.

Bihar braces for moderate to heavy rain with 50-60 km/h winds Chhattisgarh sees gusts up to 70 km/h Uttarakhand mixes light-moderate rain and snow with heavy pockets possible and Jammu-Kashmir Ladakh get scattered flurries.

Northeast Tamil Nadu Kerala and south interior Karnataka face showers with thunder Punjab Haryana Rajasthan and west UP add dust-laden rain while Gujarat south Chhattisgarh Odisha Vidarbha central Maharashtra Marathwada east Madhya Pradesh and south coastal Karnataka see isolated spells.

Saturday March 21 brings Delhi highs of 29-31C and lows 14-16C then March 22-24 maxes hit 30-34C mins 15-18C as the disturbance fades.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar