The India Meteorological Department has issued an yellow alert for large swathes of southern India on Thursday — forecasting heavy rain and thundershowers for Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and most of Karnataka. India is likely to see a mixed weather pattern this week with continued rainfall in the southern and northeastern states and a significant drop in minimum temperatures for other areas.
According to data on the IMD website, most places in the three southern states are likely to face “heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning and squalls” on Thursday. There is no warning or weather alert in place for neighbouring Kerala.
The weather department noted in its recent bulletin that southern India (comprising Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikkal, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema, Kerala and Mahe, and South Interior Karnataka) typically received a “substantial amount of rainfall” during the final months of the year. The November forecast suggested that southern India would receive ‘normal’ rainfall — with a probability of below normal rainfall in Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are projected to receive slightly ‘above normal’ levels of rain.
Delhi air quality wavers
Delhi woke up to a hazy morning on Thursday as a thin layer of smog blanketed the city, with the AQI at 278 in the ‘poor’ category and likely to deteriorate to the ‘very poor’ range by evening, according to the forecast.
The Air Quality Early Warning System has predicted further deterioration, with pollution levels likely to slip into the ‘very poor’ category between November 6 and 8. It also said that wind speed is expected to gradually increase, reaching up to 15 kmph from the northwest direction in the afternoon, before decreasing to below 10 kmph during the evening and night on November 6. The forecast further indicates a mainly clear sky with mist or haze.
The morning air quality bulletin issued by the Central Pollution Control Board showed that the national capital’s air quality was in the ‘poor’ category on Thursday morning, with an AQI reading of 278.