New Delhi: Delhi is expected to experience some relief from the extreme heat, as the India Meteorological Department has predicted thunderstorms accompanied by rain for the national capital on Wednesday, May 21. The minimum temperature is anticipated to be around 28 degrees Celsius, while the maximum could reach approximately 39 degrees Celsius. On Tuesday, temperatures soared to 41.8 degrees Celsius, coupled with increased humidity, leading to discomfort for those outdoors.
A recent study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) identified three significant trends in North India: an increase in very warm nights, rising relative humidity, and greater heat exposure in densely populated urban areas like Delhi, which is categorized as having a high to very high heat risk.
Furthermore, the weather office has also predicted thunderstorms with rain for the capital on Thursday. Meanwhile, Mumbai experienced rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning on Tuesday, which disrupted traffic in the financial hub. Officials reported that the intensity of the pre-monsoon rain was greater in the eastern and western suburbs compared to the city itself.
The weather department has indicated that parts of Maharashtra may face heavy rain, accompanied by thunder and strong winds, from May 21 to 24 due to a cyclonic circulation expected to develop over the east-central Arabian Sea near the Karnataka coast. A low-pressure area is projected to form in the same region around May 22, potentially moving northward and intensifying thereafter.
Under the circulation’s influence, the rain activity over Maharashtra might increase over the next three days.
Shubhangi Bhute, an official from the meteorological department, stated that there is a likelihood of heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms in certain areas, with gusty winds potentially reaching speeds of 30-40 km/h or even higher in isolated spots.
The regions expected to be affected include south Konkan, Mumbai, and south central Maharashtra. Additionally, the India Meteorological Department has forecasted heavy rain in the northern districts of West Bengal and thunderstorms in the southern regions until Friday. This weather pattern is attributed to an upper air cyclonic circulation over northern Bangladesh and favorable wind patterns from the Bay of Bengal, which will enhance thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in various districts of the state.
According to the IMD’s weather bulletin, rainfall is anticipated in south Bengal districts such as Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, Hooghly, West Burdwan, East Burdwan, West Midnapore, Birbhum, and Murshidabad, with heavy rain also expected in northern districts like Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, and Jalpaiguri until Friday.
In South India, torrential rain has severely impacted Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, resulting in eight fatalities. Five deaths were reported in Karnataka, three of which occurred in Bengaluru, while three individuals lost their lives due to a wall collapse in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The meteorological department has issued a ‘yellow alert’ for heavy rain and strong winds from May 20 to 22.
Furthermore, heavy rainfall is anticipated in Kerala over the next week, with significant rain already affecting areas such as Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, and Malappuram. The IMD has indicated that the southwest monsoon is expected to reach Kerala within the next four to five days, potentially arriving earlier than the usual June 1 date, marking the earliest onset over the Indian mainland since 2009, according to IMD data.
