Fresh thunderstorms over northwest India from May 10; heatwave to grip Gujarat, west Rajasthan: IMD
Southern India will also see pre-monsoon thunderstorms, with temperatures rising across various regions.
NORTHWEST India is set to witness a mix of thunderstorms and intensifying heat over the coming days as heatwave conditions build up 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 over northwest India from 10 to 13 May, the IMD said in its latest forecast. This will follow light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms over Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and east Rajasthan on 7 May. Uttarakhand may witness thundersqualls with wind speeds reaching 50-60 kmph, gusting up to 70 kmph, on 8 May.
A wet spell is expected from 11 to 13 May, bringing scattered to fairly widespread rainfall across the western Himalayan region and adjoining plains. States likely to be impacted include Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, west Uttar Pradesh and east Rajasthan, with the system extending to east Uttar Pradesh during 12-13 May.
Heatwave conditions are likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Gujarat and west Rajasthan during 9-13 May, the IMD said.
In southern India, active pre-monsoon conditions are set to persist. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal are likely to experience isolated to scattered thunderstorms with gusty winds and spells of heavy rainfall over the next six to seven days.
According to the IMD, maximum temperatures are expected to rise gradually across several regions over the coming days. Northwest India is likely to see a 3-4°C increase in daytime temperatures until 10 May, with no significant change expected from 11 to 13 May.
In central India, temperatures are forecast to remain largely stable until 8 May, followed by a gradual rise of 2-4°C. In northeast India, there could be a 3-5°C increase in maximum temperatures until 8 May, with conditions stabilising from 10 to 13 May.
Day temperatures on Wednesday crossed the 40°C mark across 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 7 to 9 May, adding to discomfort levels in coastal areas.
The evolving weather pattern highlights the typical pre-monsoon contrast—sporadic thunderstorms offering brief relief in some regions, even as heatwave conditions tighten their grip elsewhere.
