Severe heatwave in northwest, heavy rain in northeast on Thursday
The IMD has forecast monsoon advance over parts of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea around May 16. The update comes as severe heatwave, heavy rain and thunderstorms affect different parts of India.
India is likely to witness a sharp contrast in weather conditions on Thursday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting the advance of the southwest monsoon over parts of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea even as severe heatwave conditions continue to scorch northwestern and central regions of the country.
According to the IMD, atmospheric conditions are becoming favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance over parts of the south Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Sea and sections of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands around May 16.
The development marks the beginning of the monsoon’s gradual progression toward the Indian mainland.
At the same time, large parts of northwest India are expected to remain under intense heatwave to severe heatwave conditions through the week, particularly between May 13 and May 19.
West Rajasthan remains the worst affected region, where the IMD has issued a red alert for severe heatwave and warm night conditions for May 13, 14 and 15.
Meteorologists said maximum temperatures over northwest India are likely to rise by 4 to 6 degrees Celsius during the week. Warm night conditions are also expected to persist over west Rajasthan for the next seven days and over east Rajasthan for at least three days.
Heatwave conditions are also likely over parts of Gujarat, Marathwada, Madhya Maharashtra, Vidarbha, north Telangana and sections of Madhya Pradesh. Rising temperatures are expected to expand toward Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and adjoining north Indian plains over the coming days.
Meanwhile, heavy to very heavy rainfall activity is forecast over northeastern states including Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim between May 13 and May 19. Isolated heavy rainfall is also likely over Tripura and parts of Kerala.
Southern India is also expected to receive widespread rain activity, particularly across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala until May 17. The IMD warned of thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds across several regions of the country.
Weather officials said multiple weather systems are influencing the current pattern, including a well-marked low-pressure area over the southwest and west-central Bay of Bengal and an active western disturbance over north Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir in the lower tropospheric levels. Another fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from May 15 onward.
In the past 24 hours, heavy rainfall was recorded at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar and coastal Karnataka, while hailstorm activity was reported from Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and western Madhya Pradesh.
The IMD said thunderstorm activity combined with heavy rainfall is likely to continue across several regions till May 19 as India transitions into the pre-monsoon phase.
India is likely to witness a sharp contrast in weather conditions on Thursday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting the advance of the southwest monsoon over parts of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea even as severe heatwave conditions continue to scorch northwestern and central regions of the country.
According to the IMD, atmospheric conditions are becoming favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance over parts of the south Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Sea and sections of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands around May 16.
The development marks the beginning of the monsoon’s gradual progression toward the Indian mainland.
At the same time, large parts of northwest India are expected to remain under intense heatwave to severe heatwave conditions through the week, particularly between May 13 and May 19.
West Rajasthan remains the worst affected region, where the IMD has issued a red alert for severe heatwave and warm night conditions for May 13, 14 and 15.
Meteorologists said maximum temperatures over northwest India are likely to rise by 4 to 6 degrees Celsius during the week. Warm night conditions are also expected to persist over west Rajasthan for the next seven days and over east Rajasthan for at least three days.
Heatwave conditions are also likely over parts of Gujarat, Marathwada, Madhya Maharashtra, Vidarbha, north Telangana and sections of Madhya Pradesh. Rising temperatures are expected to expand toward Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and adjoining north Indian plains over the coming days.
Meanwhile, heavy to very heavy rainfall activity is forecast over northeastern states including Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim between May 13 and May 19. Isolated heavy rainfall is also likely over Tripura and parts of Kerala.
Southern India is also expected to receive widespread rain activity, particularly across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala until May 17. The IMD warned of thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds across several regions of the country.
Weather officials said multiple weather systems are influencing the current pattern, including a well-marked low-pressure area over the southwest and west-central Bay of Bengal and an active western disturbance over north Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir in the lower tropospheric levels. Another fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from May 15 onward.
In the past 24 hours, heavy rainfall was recorded at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar and coastal Karnataka, while hailstorm activity was reported from Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and western Madhya Pradesh.
The IMD said thunderstorm activity combined with heavy rainfall is likely to continue across several regions till May 19 as India transitions into the pre-monsoon phase.
