The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of extreme heatwave conditions across East and South Peninsular India over the next five days. A red alert has been declared for multiple states including Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, and Odisha. Meanwhile, relief may come to the Western Himalayan Region and adjoining plains of Northwest India with anticipated rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds.
Heatwave Alert: IMD issues red alert
IMD reports widespread heat-wave conditions, with severe instances in isolated areas of Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar. Additional states experiencing heatwave conditions include Sub Himalayan West Bengal, Jharkhand, Rayalaseema, Interior Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Mahe.
Rainfall Outlook
According to the IMD, Western disturbance has formed as a cyclonic circulation over East Afghanistan, extending to northwest Rajasthan. This will bring widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall/snowfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, to Jammu Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand from April 29th to April 30th, 2024. Hailstorms are possible over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand today.
Temperature trends to monitor
In the next 24 hours, minimal temperature fluctuations are expected. However, a decrease in maximum temperatures by 2-3°C is probable over northwest India in the following 2-3 days. Central India will see no significant change initially, followed by a gradual rise in maximum temperatures by 2-3°C over the subsequent 3 days. East India is anticipated to experience a rise in maximum temperatures by about 1-2°C over the next two days.