Hailstorm, Intense rains in Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj; Crop damage likely

The rainy spell has tightened its grip over Uttar Pradesh. At present, intense clouding can be seen over parts of the state, particularly Lucknow, Kanpur, Hardoi, Bahraich, Barabanki, and Gonda. We expect rains and thundershowers to start lashing these region any time now. It would be third consecutive day for the state to record weather activity.

According to Skymet Weather, intensity of rains would vary from light to moderate with few heavy spells covering many places of the state. These showers would be accompanied with strong winds along with hailstorm. The spell is likely to continue for at least next 3-4 hours.

Prayagraj, which is the hot spot these days for hosting gala event of Kumbh Mela, is also expected to witness rains later in the evening and morning hours.

Skymet Weather has already issued an alert for the approaching spell:

Rain and thundershower with gusty winds at many places along with hail storm at isolated places are likely over Allahabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Amethi, Auraiya, Azamgarh, Badaun, Bahraich, Ballia, Balrampur, Banda, Bara Banki, Bareilly, Basti, Bijnor, Bulandshahr, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Deoria, Etah, Etawah, Faizabad, Farrukhabad, Fatehpur, Firozabad, Ghazipur, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Hamirpur, Hapur, Hardoi, Jalaun, Jaunpur, Jhansi, Jyotiba Phule Nagar, Kannauj, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur Nagar, Kanshiram Nagar, Kaushambi, Kheri, Kushinagar, Lalitpur, Lucknow, Mahamaya Nagar, Mahoba, Mahrajganj, Mau, Mirzapur, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Pilibhit, Pratapgarh, Rae Bareli, Rampur, Saharanpur, Sambhal, Sant Kabir Nagar, Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadohi), Shahjahanpur, Shrawasti, Siddharthnagar, Sitapur, Sonbhadra, Sultanpur, Unnao and Varanasi during next 24 hours.

These rains could be attributed to the east-west trough travelling through and through Uttar Pradesh.  Further, the weather conditions remain conducive for rains to continue over parts of the state, but with reducing intensity.

Checkout the live lightning and thunderstorm status across Uttar Pradesh

Weathermen predict that rains would be now reducing significantly over most parts of the state, barring isolated pockets of southern and southeast districts may receive light rains with one or two moderate showers. On January 26, places like Agra, Jhansi, Hamirpur, Banda, Chitrakoot and Prayagraj.

Threat of crop Damage 

Although rains would help in improving the rainfall deficiency but hailstorm during along with squally winds are quite dangerous for the crop.

At present, crops like Black Gram, Wheat and Mustard are in the standing stage. These untimely rains could lead to crop lodging, which could completely destroy the crop and damage the quality of grain.

Image Credit:en.wikipedia.org

Any information taken from here should be credited to skymetweather.com