Monsoon advances amid severe heat wave in north and central India | Today’s news
NEW DELHI: Even as northwest and central India grapple with severe heatwave conditions, the southwest monsoon is making steady progress, raising hopes of relief in the coming days.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Southwest Monsoon has advanced into more parts of the Southwest and Southeast Arabian Sea, the Lakshadweep region, parts of the Bay of Bengal and remaining areas of the Andaman Sea since Tuesday. The weather office said conditions remain favorable for the monsoon to spread further over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal in the next two to three days.
“Conditions are favorable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some other parts of Southwest and Southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep region, Southwest, Central and West Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of Southeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of Northeast Bay of Bengal during the next 2-3 days,” the IMD said in its latest update.
The IMD predicted the onset of the Southwest Monsoon over Kerala on May 26, ahead of its normal onset date of June 1, with a model margin of error of four days either side. Last year, the monsoon reached the Kerala coast on May 24.
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The onset over Kerala formally marks the start of the Southwest Monsoon’s advance across the Indian mainland, signaling the transition from high summer to the rainy season.
The monsoon remains critical to India’s economy, contributing more than 70% of the country’s annual rainfall. Timely and adequate rains are essential to the agricultural sector and the rural economy as they affect agricultural production and consumption. Despite improvements in irrigation infrastructure, nearly 45% of India’s net sown area remains dependent on rainfall.
The heat strengthens the handle
The advancing monsoon is coming even as extreme heat continues to plague large parts of the country. The IMD said heat wave to severe heat wave is likely to persist in central and northwest India for the next two to three days before abating from May 29.
As temperatures continued to soar in large parts of the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged citizens to take precautions against the extreme heat and stay hydrated.
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“Various parts of India are witnessing soaring temperatures and the problems that come with it. This heat is rough on all of us and I urge you all to take as many precautions as possible. Please stay hydrated, carry water with you when you go out. Offer a glass of water to others. Kindness like this goes a long way in this weather,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X.
On 26 May, maximum temperatures were in the range of 45–47 degrees Celsius over Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, East Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Vidarbha and 40–45 °C over most other parts of the country except Northeast India, Western Himalayan region, West Coast and interior Tamil Nadu. The highest maximum temperature of 47.4°C was recorded at Banda in Uttar Pradesh.
On May 28, the meteorological office warned of severe heat waves in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, eastern Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. It also predicts heatwave conditions over isolated and some areas of West Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha during 28-29. May.
Besides, heat waves are very likely in isolated pockets of Telangana during 28-29. May and in Himachal Pradesh and Odisha on May 28.
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Hot and humid weather is also likely to prevail over Odisha from May 28 to 31; Konkan & Goa and coastal Gujarat on May 28; and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal and Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam during 28-29 May.
But meteorologists see signs of relief emerging. Between May 28 and 30, moderate to severe thunderstorm activity accompanied by gusty winds of up to 70 km/h is likely over northwest, central and eastern India, which may lead to lower daytime temperatures.
Rain activity is also expected to intensify. The IMD has predicted isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over northeast and adjoining eastern India over the next two to three days, while southern peninsular India, especially Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, is likely to see increased rainfall till May 29.
