NE braces for heavy rain as heatwave scorches North India

DIMAPUR/NEW DELHI, MAY 24 (NPN/AGENCIES): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall across the Northeast during the coming week, even as large parts of North and Northwest India continue to reel under an intense heatwave.
According to IMD, isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh during May 25-26; Assam and Meghalaya during May 25-29; and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura on May 25, 29 and 30.
IMD also forecast isolated very heavy rainfall over Arunachal Pradesh on May 25 and over Assam and Meghalaya during May 25-27.
While the Northeast and southern states are expected to receive widespread rain and thunderstorms, North India is likely to witness severe heatwave conditions on Monday.
IMD forecast severe heatwave conditions in some pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and East Uttar Pradesh, with temperatures in Delhi expected to remain between 43 and 45 degrees Celsius.
Isolated severe heatwave conditions are also likely over parts of Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha, while western Rajasthan is expected to continue experiencing extreme heat till May 30.
On Sunday, the country’s highest maximum temperature was recorded at Brahmapuri in Vidarbha at 47.1 degrees Celsius. Temperatures across central India and adjoining Uttar Pradesh hovered between 43 and 47 degrees Celsius, remaining significantly above normal.
In Delhi, IMD predicted partly cloudy conditions with chances of dust storms or thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds of 40-50 kmph, occasionally reaching 60 kmph, along with light rain or drizzle during the evening.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall has also been forecast over Kerala and Mahe, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Lakshadweep.
IMD further stated that conditions were favourable for the advance of the Southwest Monsoon into parts of the Arabian Sea, Comorin area and Bay of Bengal during the next two to three days.
The weather department said relief from the ongoing heatwave in Northwest India was likely from May 29 under the influence of a fresh western disturbance, which may reduce temperatures by 3-5 degrees Celsius.