The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast that the month of April would have 12% more rain than is usual over most of India except the northeastern States and part of the southern peninsula. This also means that several parts of North India, which usually start to become hot and dry, were relatively cooler on account of several “western disturbances” (WD). These are extra-tropical storms from the Mediterranean that bring in rains to India during the non-monsoon months. The month of March saw eight such WD in North India, two above the six that’s usual. Following eight WDs in March, at least three or four distinct, strong systems affected northwest India through mid-April, causing significant damage to crops in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. The number of such WDs are expected to abate in the latter half of the month. The WDs have an effect of improving air quality in some regions. The rain settles atmospheric dust but in the build-up to the rain, there can be a temporary rise in dust from the strong winds that precede these rains. ( Text by Jacob Koshy) Photo: Imran Nissar Colours of Kashmir: Amid a drizzlie in Srinagar, tourists visit the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, one of the largest gardens of its kind in Asia Photo: ANI Himalayan blanket: A view of the town of Sissu after a fresh spell of snowfall, in Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh Photo: PTI Monsoon prep: Workers cover wheat sacks with tarpaulin sheets to protect the grain from rain at a market in Patiala, Punjab Photo: ANI Slick streets, capital look: Pedestrians make their way along a glistening Kartavya Path following rain in New Delhi. The city’s weather depends a lot on the plains around it, and the Himalayas. If it snows in the ranges, it rains in the city or there is a temperature drop. Photo: Sudhakara Jain Winged visitors: A Pigeon is drinking water from pot in Bengaluru. Photo: ANI An honest day’s work: A labourer sorts wheat grain in a field in Bhopal. Excessive and untimely rain can lead to crop damage. Photo: ANI Splash and dash: Vehicles ply on a rainy day in Prayagraj Photo: PTI Pink City in sepia: Commuters brave a dust storm as rain clouds cover the skyline at Sanganeri Gate in Jaipur. Photo: PTI Rain refugees: People take cover during a sudden shower at Sanganeri Gate in Jaipur. Published – April 19, 2026 12:03 pm IST Share this: Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Like this:Like Loading... Post navigation Two Indian men shot dead in Italy while leaving gurdwara Watch: Opposition slams Narendra Modi over speech, alleges poll code violation