IMD issues flood warning for Northeast as UP battles severe heat wave | Today’s news
The Southwest Monsoon is all set to advance over Central and North India over the next few days. However, the immediate concern lies in the country’s northeast, where the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of exceptionally heavy rainfall and potential flooding. Meanwhile, eastern Uttar Pradesh continues to battle severe heat waves, which are expected to continue for the next three days.
The IMD added that the atmospheric conditions remain favorable for the further advance of monsoon across the country. “Conditions are favorable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon over more parts of North Arabian Sea, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, remaining parts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar and some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand during the next three to four days,” the IMD said in its latest forecast. Monsoon arrived in Kerala on June 4.
The Northeast continues to bear the brunt of heavy rains. On 25 June, isolated localities in sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland experienced very heavy rainfall (12 to 20 cm). Meanwhile, heavy rainfall (7 to 11 cm) was observed in isolated pockets over Konkan, Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar and Assam.
According to the IMD forecast, heavy to very heavy rainfall (7-20 cm) is likely over Northeast India and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim in the coming week, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall over sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during 27-29. June.
Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya Mizoram and Tripura during 27 June to 2 July. IMD also predicts isolated thundershowers and lightning over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during 27-30. June.
A story of extremes
In contrast, eastern Uttar Pradesh continues to face severe heat stress. In June, the maximum temperatures were in the range of 40–43 °C in many parts of East Uttar Pradesh, a few places in West Uttar Pradesh and isolated places in West Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, West Rajasthan and Jharkhand and below 40 °C in the rest of the country. The highest maximum temperature of 43°C was reported at Ghoorpur, Allahabad.
Contrasting weather extremes underline the challenges facing policymakers, with excessive rainfall threatening infrastructure in the northeast and prolonged heatwaves continuing to weigh on demand for energy and agriculture in northern India.
