The wet spell is likely to continue over northwest India during the week, with predictions of heavy rainfall and snowfall over the Kashmir valley on March 30.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast hailstorms over North-West India during March 29-30 and over central India on March 30 and 31.A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect North-West India from April 2, bringing snowfall to Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.“Scattered to fairly widespread rainfall, along with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds, is likely over North-East and adjoining east India during the week, with a possibility of isolated heavy rainfall over North-East India from March 30 to April 1. Isolated rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds is also likely to continue over south peninsular India during the week,” the IMD said in its daily forecast.In the last 24 hours, the highest maximum temperature of 41.2°C was recorded at Akola in Maharashtra, while the lowest minimum temperature of 15.6°C was observed at Najibabad in west Uttar Pradesh.In the national capital, minimum and maximum temperatures have risen by 1-2°C over the past 24 hours. The maximum temperature ranged between 32°C and 34°C, while the minimum ranged between 19°C and 21°C during this period.As an advisory to farmers, the Met department has suggested using hail nets or hail caps in fruit orchards and vegetable crops to protect them from mechanical damage in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, west Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh. It has also advised farmers to harvest mature crops immediately and shift them to safer places.“In Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha, harvest mature wheat, sorghum, safflower, chickpea, maize, linseed, fruits and vegetables and store the produce in safe places. In Uttarakhand, harvest mature mustard, rapeseed, lentil and pea crops and keep the produce in safe places,” the IMD said.