The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an urgent weather advisory, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall across various Indian states in the upcoming week. The alert comes as monsoonal activities gain momentum, promising significant precipitation that might affect day-to-day life and even pose risks in certain regions.
According to IMD’s forecasts, the states of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura are expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall on June 17 and 18. Issuing these warnings on social media platform X, the IMD specified that regions in sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are likely to experience isolated heavy rainfall ranging from 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm. Additionally, these areas could see very heavy rainfall from 115.5 mm to 204.4 mm, with extremely heavy falls surpassing 204.4 mm, particularly on June 15 and 16, continuing through June 17 to 19. The forecast extends to predict heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy falls over sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, and Meghalaya over the next 4–5 days.
The IMD’s rain forecast elaborates on widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds blowing at speeds between 30-40 kilometers per hour. These conditions are expected to affect areas including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim over the span of the next seven days. In contrast, states like Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha are anticipated to witness isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall with similar stormy conditions and gusty winds for the next four days, with an increase expected thereafter.
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Furthermore, the meteorological conditions are deemed favorable for the further advancement of the Southwest Monsoon into additional parts of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and the Northwest Bay of Bengal over the next 4-5 days. Regarding East India, the IMD states that there will be no significant change in maximum temperatures for the next two days, followed by a potential decrease of 2-3 degrees Celsius. Central India is also expected to experience a drop in maximum temperatures by 2-3 degrees Celsius over the next 4-5 days.
In light of these anticipated weather changes, a yellow alert has been issued for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad. The Regional Meteorological Centre has indicated the likelihood of thunderstorms featuring lightning, light to moderate rainfall, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kilometers per hour at isolated locations within these areas.
Notably, while rainfall is anticipated in some regions, others will continue to grapple with extreme heat. From June 15 to 18, a heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are expected to prevail in many parts of Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi are likely to experience heatwave to severe heatwave conditions from June 15 to 17.
Residents in the affected areas are advised to stay updated with the latest weather forecasts and take necessary precautions. The IMD underscores the importance of preparedness and advisories such as avoiding travel to prone areas, adhering to safety guidelines, and staying indoors as much as possible during adverse weather events.
As the nation braces itself for these contrasting weather extremes, it serves as a reminder of the diverse climatic conditions that different regions face. From torrential rains bringing a respite to certain areas but also posing potential hazards, to heatwaves intensifying summer conditions in others, India’s weather pattern remains as varied as its geography.
The IMD continues to monitor the evolving weather situation and will provide updates as necessary to keep the public informed and prepared for upcoming weather adversities.
