Several parts of country to receive light to moderate rain this week: IMD

IMD said there will be "scattered to fairly widespread" rainfall and thunderstorm activities in northwest India for the next 36 hours.

Several parts of the country are likely to receive light to moderate rain, with instances of thunderstorm activities at isolated places, this week, the India Meteorological Department said on Sunday.

North India is likely to witness light to moderate rainfall this week due to two western disturbances that will bring precipitation and thunderstorms to the hills and the plains, the IMD said, news agency PTI reported.

The National Weather Forecasting Centre (NWFC) of the IMD said there will be "scattered to fairly widespread" rainfall and thunderstorm activities in northwest India for the next 36 hours.

The activity will reduce significantly by May 12.

Another western disturbance is likely to hit the region from May 14 and its influence is likely to continue for the subsequent 2-3 days, the IMD said.

A western disturbance is a cyclonic circulation originating from the Mediterranean sea and travels across the central Asia. It collides with the Himalayas and brings rains to the hills and the north Indian plains.

Heavy rainfall is likely over Kerala and Tamil Nadu during the next 24 hours due to a trough. Coastal Karnataka is also likely to receive rains on May 13 and 14.

Scattered to fairly widespread rain/thundershowers are likely to continue over northeast India during the next 4-5 days with peak activities during May 12-14 when heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places over Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.