Heat Wave Conditions Continue in North India, Rains Forecast in Northeast
17 June 2024, New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather update forecasting continued heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy falls over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Assam, and Meghalaya over the next 3 days. Additionally, heat wave to severe heat wave conditions are likely to continue over many parts of North India for the next 2 days before gradually abating under the influence of an approaching Western Disturbance.
Heatwave Conditions Prevail
Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions were observed in most parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi, as well as in many parts of south Bihar and south Uttarakhand. Heatwave conditions were also observed in some parts of Jammu-Kashmir, north Madhya Pradesh, and isolated pockets of Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, north Rajasthan, and Vidarbha.
Warm night to severe warm night conditions were observed in some parts of Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi and isolated pockets of Uttar Pradesh, with warm night conditions in isolated pockets of Punjab, Rajasthan, and West Madhya Pradesh.
Maximum temperatures were in the range of 44-46°C in most parts of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, north Rajasthan, and north Madhya Pradesh, as well as isolated pockets of Bihar and Jharkhand. These temperatures were 4-8°C above normal for these regions.
The highest maximum temperature of 47.6°C was reported at Prayagraj in East Uttar Pradesh.
Advancement of Southwest Monsoon
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of continued heat wave to severe heat wave conditions over many parts of North India for the next two days. This includes Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, where temperatures have been 4-8°C above normal.
However, relief is on the way as a Western Disturbance is expected to bring isolated to scattered rainfall with thunderstorms to parts of North and Northwest India from June 18-20. Strong surface winds of 25-35 km/h are also forecast over the plains of Northwest India during the next 5 days.
In the Northeast, a cyclonic circulation and north-south trough will lead to widespread light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds over the region during the next 5 days. Isolated heavy to very heavy and even extremely heavy rainfall is expected over Assam, Meghalaya, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim from June 17-21.
Madhya Pradesh Weather:
Across Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, and Chhattisgarh, isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 40-60 km/h are very likely over the next 5 days. The IMD has also forecast isolated heavy rainfall over parts of Madhya Pradesh during this period.
The weather systems over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are expected to bring scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorms to parts of West, South, and East India in the coming days as well. The IMD has advised people to take necessary precautions against the ongoing extreme weather conditions across the country.
