The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday said conditions are becoming favourable for the advance of the southwest monsoon over parts of the south Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Sea, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands around May 16.
Low-pressure area persists over Bay of Bengal
According to the IMD’s latest All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin, a well-marked low-pressure area over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal continues to persist over the same region.
The associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 5.8 km above mean sea level, indicating strengthening weather activity over eastern coastal regions.
Rain and thunderstorms likely across northwest India
The weather department has forecast scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall along with isolated thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30–50 kmph over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad and Himachal Pradesh on May 15 and 16.
Uttarakhand is also likely to witness similar weather activity on May 14.
Lightning alert issued for Himachal Pradesh
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are expected over Himachal Pradesh on May 14.
Meanwhile, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh are likely to receive isolated light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30–60 kmph on May 14.
Heavy rainfall alert issued for northeast India
In northeast India, the IMD has predicted scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph across Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura between May 14 and 17.
Assam and Meghalaya are also expected to receive rainfall during the same period.
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya on heavy rain watch
The department has further warned of isolated heavy rainfall over Arunachal Pradesh between May 15 and 18, Assam and Meghalaya from May 15 to 19, and Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram on May 14 and 15.
Tripura is likely to witness heavy rainfall on May 14, 15, 18, and 19.
Additionally, isolated very heavy rainfall has been forecast over Arunachal Pradesh on May 14 and 18, and over Assam and Meghalaya on May 14.
Eastern India braces for squally winds and thunderstorms
The IMD has forecast widespread rainfall activity accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across several parts of eastern India over the next few days.
Bihar and Jharkhand likely to witness thundersquall activity
Scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty to squally winds reaching speeds of 30–60 kmph is likely over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands between May 14 and 19.
Similar weather conditions are expected over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim from May 14 to 16, Gangetic West Bengal on May 14, Bihar on May 14, 15, and 17, Jharkhand between May 15 and 18, and Odisha on May 14 and 15.
The weather department has also warned of thundersquall activity with wind speeds of 50–60 kmph gusting up to 70 kmph over Jharkhand on May 14 and Bihar on May 16.
Heavy rainfall likely in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Additionally, isolated heavy rainfall is likely over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from May 14 to 19 and over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim between May 14 and 16.
Thunderstorm activity likely in central India
In central India, isolated light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40–50 kmph is likely over Chhattisgarh between May 14 and 17, according to the IMD.
Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms forecast for south India
The IMD has predicted scattered to fairly widespread thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 30–50 kmph across several parts of South Peninsular India.
Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, and Lakshadweep are likely to witness rainfall activity on May 14, while Kerala and Mahe, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema, and South Interior Karnataka may experience similar weather conditions between May 14 and 17. Telangana is also likely to receive thunderstorms on May 14 and 15.
Coastal Karnataka and Telangana under weather alert
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are expected over Coastal Karnataka on May 14 and 15.
The department has further warned of thundersquall activity with wind speeds of 50–60 kmph gusting up to 70 kmph over North Interior Karnataka on May 14 and 15.
Hailstorm activity likely in Karnataka
Isolated heavy rainfall is also likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal between May 14 and 17, Kerala and Mahe from May 14 to 16, and South Interior Karnataka on May 15 and 16.
The IMD has additionally forecast isolated hailstorm activity over South Interior Karnataka on May 15.
Severe heatwave conditions likely in several states
The India Meteorological Department has also issued a widespread heatwave warning across several parts of the country, forecasting severe heatwave conditions, warm nights, and hot and humid weather over multiple states in the coming days.
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh face intense heatwave
According to the IMD, severe heatwave conditions are likely in isolated pockets of West Rajasthan on May 14 and 15 and West Madhya Pradesh between May 14 and 17.
Heatwave conditions are also expected over Uttar Pradesh from May 16 to 19, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi between May 17 and 19, East Rajasthan from May 14 to 19, and East Madhya Pradesh between May 15 and 17.
Vidarbha and Marathwada under heat alert
The IMD has warned that Vidarbha is likely to experience heatwave conditions from May 14 to 19, while West Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh may remain under heatwave conditions between May 16 and 19.
Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, Saurashtra and Kutch, and the Gujarat region are also likely to witness heatwave conditions on May 14. Telangana is expected to remain under heatwave conditions from May 15 to 19.
Warm night conditions to prevail in parts of India
Warm night conditions are likely to prevail in isolated pockets over West Rajasthan between May 14 and 19 and East Rajasthan on May 14 and 15. The IMD has also forecast warm night conditions over Vidarbha and Marathwada on May 14.
Konkan and Goa likely to experience hot and humid weather
Apart from the heatwave warning, the weather department has predicted hot and humid weather conditions in isolated areas of Konkan and Goa on May 14, which may increase discomfort levels for residents in the coastal belt.