The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a rain alert for several states, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. A heatwave alert has also been issued for six states, including Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
As per the latest bulletin by the IMD, there is a strong possibility of heavy rain at isolated places in the northeastern Indian states of Assam and Meghalaya today. Besides, a warning of thunderstorms and lightning has been issued for Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.
While hailstorms have been predicted for Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, unfavourable weather conditions, including heavy rains, will prevail in Uttarakhand until April 19.
Heatwave warning in these states
Heat wave is predicted in different parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Karnataka on Friday. The weather will be very hot and humid in Andhra Pradesh, coastal Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Konkan and Goa, Odisha and Tamil Nadu.
Temperature continues to soar in many parts of Northern India, including in Vidarbha, Marathwada and Delhi where the temperature hovered between 40°C and 44 °C. The lowest minimum temperature in the plains was recorded at 14.0°C in Sarsawa, Uttar Pradesh.
The Meteorological Department says widespread rainfall is expected over Northeast India and the Western Himalayan region over the next three days. Scattered rain is possible over Gujarat and the western parts of peninsular India. Gardeners in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh have been advised to use hail-nets to protect fruit trees.
Eastern India
Thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds are set to lash West Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha over the next few days. A thundersquall with gusty winds reaching 70 kmph has been predicted in Gangetic West Bengal, which could briefly disturb train, road, and even air transport. Rains are also expected in Odisha till April 21.