Heavy rains lash northeast and eastern India as monsoon advances; Heat wave persists in parts of Maharashtra | Today’s news
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya over the next six to seven days as conditions remain favorable for the further advance of the Southwest Monsoon over large parts of the country.
According to the IMD, the monsoon is expected to advance to other areas of western, central and eastern India in the coming days.
“Conditions are favorable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon over more parts of Maharashtra, remaining parts of Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, some other parts of Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and some parts of South Chhattisgarh during the next 4-5 days,” the IMD said in a statement.
Monsoon march
The Southwest Monsoon arrived in Kerala on June 4, three days after its usual onset date of June 1. It has already covered Kerala, Tamil Nadu, large parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, parts of Maharashtra, Telangana, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and the entire North Eastern region.
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India receives nearly 70% of its annual rainfall through the southwest monsoon, which is critical for kharif sowing. A favorable monsoon can boost rural demand, boost consumption and help overall economic growth.
While the eastern and northeastern states are likely to witness intense rainfall, heat waves are expected to continue in isolated pockets of Marathwada and Vidarbha over the next three to four days.
Heat wave warning
The IMD has predicted a gradual rise in maximum temperatures in several parts of the country in the coming days, with heat waves expected in some parts of Maharashtra.
According to the latest weather outlook, maximum temperatures over northwest India are likely to increase by 4-6 degrees Celsius (°C) by June 18. After that, no significant change is expected.
Central India is also likely to witness a gradual rise in day temperatures till June 16, followed by relatively stable conditions. Temperatures in Maharashtra are expected to remain almost unchanged till June 18. However, a gradual decrease of 2-3°C is likely during the 19th-20th. June.
In the rest of the country, no significant change in maximum temperatures is expected until June 19.
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The IMD has issued a heatwave warning for isolated areas of Marathwada from June 15 to 17 and Vidarbha from June 15 to 16. Residents of these regions have been advised to take precautions against heat illness.
Additionally, hot and humid conditions are likely to prevail over Konkan & Goa and Madhya Maharashtra between June 15 and 17. Warm night conditions are also very likely over isolated areas of Konkan & Goa from June 15-16, which may cause discomfort due to limited night cooling.
Maximum temperatures were in the range of 36-40°C on June 13 at many places in central and adjoining eastern India, parts of northwestern India, Gujarat, interior Maharashtra and Telangana. Temperatures stayed below 36°C in most other parts of the country.
The highest maximum temperature of 41.9 °C was recorded at Bhavnagar in Gujarat.
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Attention fishermen
The IMD has issued a multi-day maritime warning for fishermen operating in both the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
In the Bay of Bengal, fishermen were advised to avoid the Gulf of Mannar, the Comorin region, the Sri Lankan coast, large parts of the southern Bay of Bengal, areas adjacent to the Orissa coast, the Andaman Sea and parts of the Myanmar coast between June 14 and 19.
In the Arabian Sea, fishermen have been advised not to venture along and off the coasts of Somalia and Oman, as well as the adjacent areas of the South-West, Mid-West and North-East Arabian Sea during the forecast period.
