Northwest India will witness a mix of thunderstorms and intensifying heat in the coming days as heatwave conditions accumulate in the western parts of the country, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.
Isolated to scattered thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40-60 kmph are likely to occur over northwest India from May 10 to 13, the IMD said in its latest forecast. Light to moderate rain and thundershowers will follow on May 7 over Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and East Rajasthan. Uttarakhand may witness thunderstorms with wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph with gusts up to 70 kmph on May 8.
A wet spell is expected from May 11 to 13, bringing scattered to fairly widespread rainfall over the western Himalayan region and adjoining plains. The states likely to be affected include Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh and East Rajasthan, with the system expected to develop during the 12th-13th. may expand to the east of Uttar Pradesh.
A heatwave is likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Gujarat and West Rajasthan during May 9-13, the IMD said.
Active pre-monsoon conditions are expected to persist in southern India. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal are likely to experience isolated to scattered thunderstorms with gusty winds and heavy rainfall in the next six to seven days.
Maximum temperatures
According to IMD, the maximum temperatures are expected to rise gradually in several regions in the coming days. Northwest India is likely to see an increase of 3-4°C in daytime temperatures till May 10, with no significant change expected from May 11 to 13.
In Central India, temperatures are expected to remain mostly stable till May 8, followed by a gradual increase of 2-4°C. Northeast India could see a 3-5°C rise in maximum temperatures by May 8, with conditions stabilizing between May 10 and 13.
Daytime temperatures on Wednesday crossed the 40°C mark in several regions, including Vidarbha, Telangana, Rayalaseema, Saurashtra and Kutch, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Rajkot in Gujarat recorded the highest temperature of 42.9°C.
The IMD also flagged hot and humid conditions over Konkan and Goa from May 7 to 9, adding to the discomfort in coastal areas.
The developing weather pattern highlights the typical pre-monsoon contrast – sporadic thunderstorms offer brief relief in some regions, even as heat conditions intensify elsewhere.
