The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for thunderstorms and rainfall for 15 states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan and Punjab. The IMD has also warned of showers accompanied by winds of up to 90 kilometres per hour in many states.
There is also a red alert for severe cyclonic storms and hailstorms for the next few days, which will bring respite to the heat wave caused by the Nautapa season.
According to the IMD, several cyclonic circulations over the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and North India have destabilised the weather across the country. A long trough extends from northwest Uttar Pradesh to southern Odisha. A cyclonic circulation is also present over the Tamil Nadu coast, Assam, and central Uttar Pradesh. This is why Rajasthan and Central India are experiencing intense heat, while heavy rainfall is intensifying in Eastern and Southern India.
Not just the IMD, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, a European weather agency, has also predicted 15 days of rain in India. There is also a warning of devastating storms with winds of 80 to 100 km per hour, as the northern boundary of the southwest monsoon advances strongly. Conditions are also favourable for its further advance into the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep Islands, and the central and northeastern Bay of Bengal over the next 2-3 days.
India's INSAT-3DS satellite has also released images of a 2,500-kilometre-wide cloud cover moving toward India. These clouds are hovering over northern India, extending into central India. This cloud formation signals impending storms and rain.
Rains in Delhi, other parts
The IMD said heavy rains can be expected in the national capital until June 3. The sky will remain cloudy, while light rain with thunderstorms is possible. Gusty winds with speeds ranging from 60-70 kmph to 80 kmph are possible. This will cause a drop of 8-10 degrees in maximum temperatures and 4-5 degrees in minimum temperatures by Saturday.
Northwest India, including Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa, is expected to receive rainfall until June 2. Thunderstorms (wind speeds of 80-90 kmph and gusts up to 100 kmph) are also possible.
Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, West Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand and Odisha may also receive light to heavy rainfall till June 3. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning (wind speed 50-60 kmph and gusts up to 70 kmph) are also likely.
