New Delhi, March 15 -- A spell of isolated thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and hailstorms is likely to continue over the Western Himalayan region and adjoining plains on Monday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning that a fresh western disturbance (WD) may trigger rain and storms across the region and adjoining northwest India from March 18.

"As per our expectation, a WD is impacting NW India and causing rain and thunderstorms. Another WD is coming, it may be a longer spell. We are expecting rainfall over other parts of the country also. There was a hot spell over the country during the last couple of weeks, but now we can expect a fall in temperatures for a few days," IMD director general Mrutyunjay Mohapatra sai...