Jaipur, April 3 (IANS) A sudden change in weather swept across Rajasthan on Friday morning, bringing rain, thunderstorms, and hailstorms to several western and central districts. The spell has provided much-needed relief from the heat, with temperatures dropping significantly across the state.

The weather changed abruptly on Friday morning, with rainfall reported from districts including Jaisalmer, Ajmer, Nagaur, Sikar, Kuchaman-Didwana, and Jalore. While some areas witnessed heavy showers, others experienced only drizzle, making the weather pleasant. Hailstorms accompanied the rain in rural parts of Jaisalmer.

Didwana recorded heavy rainfall between 5.30 a.m. and 6 a.m., with cool winds offering relief from rising temperatures.

Meanwhile, Jalore remained overcast throughout the morning, witnessing intermittent spells of drizzle. The combined effect of rainfall and strong winds has led to a noticeable decline in both maximum and minimum temperatures, temporarily ending heatwave conditions in the state.

According to weather experts, back-to-back Western Disturbances have become active over the region. Moisture incursion from the Arabian Sea has triggered rainfall, thunderstorms, and hail activity. This spell is expected to continue until April 7-8, with no heatwave likely in Rajasthan until at least April 10.

In Ajmer, a brief but intense spell of rain lasted for about 5 minutes around 10 a.m., bringing instant relief. In Sikar, rain began around 7.30 a.m. across several areas, accompanied by cool winds. The minimum temperature at Fatehpur dropped to 18.8 degrees Celsius from 21.4 degress C a day earlier.

In Jalore, drizzle was reported around 7 a.m., with cloudy conditions persisting. In Didwana & Nagaur, Didwana received around 2 mm of rainfall, while light showers were reported in parts of Nagaur, including Sanju and Riyan Bari. In Jaisalmer, rural areas saw heavy rain and hail, while the city experienced drizzle with overcast skies.

A stronger weather system is expected to become active from the evening of April 6. The Meteorological Centre in Jaipur has indicated that April 7-8 may witness widespread rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, lightning, and hailstorms across several districts.

An Orange Alert has already been issued for eight districts, while a yellow alert remains in place for the rest of the state. While the rain has brought relief from the heat, it has also caused damage to crops. In districts like Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh, strong winds and rain have flattened ripened wheat crops.

Similar damage has been reported in parts of Sikar. On Thursday, Kota recorded the highest temperature in the state at 38.3 degrees C, while Jaipur recorded a maximum of 36 degrees C under clear skies. The sudden weather shift has since brought temperatures down across regions.

–IANS

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