India
oi-Ashish Rana
Relentless rains have started in many areas of India with the onset of southwest monsoon. The weather has affected life in many parts of the country; from flooded roads in Mumbai to thunderstorms in Delhi and heavy showers in central India. Water logging, traffic jams and transport delays are commonplace, and in some states, lives have been lost due to water logging.
The India Meteorological Department predicts intense southwest monsoon activity, with heavy to extremely heavy rainfall expected in over 20 states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha until July 8, causing disruptions like waterlogging.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning that the monsoon will be very active in the central parts of India for the next five to six days. Heavy to extremely heavy rains are likely to occur over more than 20 states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha till July 8.
The monsoon has covered more parts of North and West India.The monsoon has taken over more areas in North and West India.
The IMD reported that the monsoon has further advanced in past 24 hours. It has now spread to other regions of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. The entire Delhi region is now under the monsoon regime with this latest advancement.
The weather department has predicted that the system will spread further over the other parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and north Arabian Sea in the next two to three days.
The department has attributed the present spell with a low forming over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Odisha-West Bengal coast. The system is likely to continue its heavy rainfall activity in central India in the next few days as it intensifies.
Mumbai, Gujarat and Maharashtra have the highest risk for rain.
Heavy rainfall is likely over western parts of India
The highest risk zone is coastal Maharashtra including Mumbai and extremely heavy rainfall is expected in the coming days. The intense spells of rain are also likely in south Gujarat, Konkan-Goa, ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra and in Saurashtra-Kutch.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to persist till July 08 which may lead to flooding, waterlogging and traffic disruptions in the cities like Mumbai, Thane, Ratnagiri, Pune, Surat, Vadodara etc.
Eastern Uttar Pradesh, eastern Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Maharashtra and Odisha are also likely to witness very heavy rainfall, while heavy showers have been forecast for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gangetic West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, western Uttar Pradesh, western Madhya Pradesh and Saurashtra.
Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Hill States brace for more rain
Wednesday evening saw Delhi experience heavy lightning, followed by a respite from the heat in the form of gusty winds. Weather conditions will be similar for the next few days and rain and thunderstorms will occur at regular intervals.
Heavy rainfall is likely in Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab on 2 July and on July 5-8.
Heavy rainfall is forecasted in Uttar Pradesh over eastern districts from 5th to 7th July. Heavy rain is expected to return to the western part of the state again on July 2 and again from July 5 to July 7.
The hill states are also expected to continue to be affected by active monsoon. In the state of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, heavy rainfall is likely to continue through the night of July 8 with very heavy showers likely in isolated areas.
Heavy rainfall is expected over eastern part of Rajasthan during 4th to 8th July. Dust storm winds of 50-70 kmph may be possible over western Rajasthan and thunderstorm with lightning and gusty winds up to 60 kmph may occur in a few places.
Odisha, Bihar and North-East and Southern States stay alert following the floods.Odisha, Bihar and North-East and Southern States remain alert after the floods.
Odisha is one of the States most vulnerable to weather hazards. The IMD has declared a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall on July 3 and July 4 and has forecast widespread rainfall in the state till July 8.
Gangetic West Bengal is likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall. Bihar could see scattered rainfall on July 5 and July 6, while in Jharkhand heavy rainfall is likely on July 4 to July 8. Lightning is also possible with thunderstorms in the eastern part of India.
The North-East will see hot and humid conditions till July 6 with Arunachal Pradesh seeing the same. But heavy rainfall is expected in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura until July 8th. Thunderstorms and lightning may occur in Assam and Meghalaya on 3rd July and 4th July as well.
There is also a risk of heavy to very heavy rainfall in coastal Karnataka and Kerala till 8 July. Rain with associated thunderstorms is likely over Telangana, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu while very heavy rainfall would occur across south interior Karnataka during 5th-8th July.
The IMD has indicated that there is little change expected in the maximum temperatures over the majority of the country till July 8. Rainfall is likely to be fairly frequent over places receiving it and the days will be relatively cool, but humidity may persist over parts of the north-eastern plains.
The public has been warned not to avoid the unnecessary travel, be away from rivers, low-lying areas and hill routes in vulnerable areas, and stay indoors during the lightning. Farmers have been urged to take precautions to safeguard standing crops and people in the big cities must be ready for waterlogging and traffic jams during the ongoing monsoon season.
