Heat wave likely to abate from May 27 to May 31: IMD

New Delhi, May 20: Heat wave conditions in parts of central and north India will gradually abate from May 27 to May 31, IMD said on Friday, (May 20).

"Heat wave to severe heat wave conditions are very likely at a few places over Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat; and at isolated places over south Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha and central Maharashtra," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its forecast.

It issued a "red alert" and "severe heat wave" warning for east and west Rajasthan, east and west Madhya Pradesh, Saurashtra and Kutch and the Gujarat region. The situation is likely to remain the same for the next two days.

"The (heat) intensity is likely to reduce thereafter and gradually abate during May 27 to 31. The maximum day and minimum night temperatures are likely to remain markedly above normal over entire northwest, west and central India during May 17 to 27.

They are likely to fall to their respective normal or below normal values between May 27 and June 1," IMD said. Several parts of the country are reeling under intense heat while the MeT department has predicted that the onset of monsoon will get delayed by six days.

Meanwhile, conditions were favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some parts of South Bay of Bengal, Andaman Islands and remaining parts of North Andaman Sea during the next 48 hours, the IMD said.

Southwest monsoon hit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands two days before its normal date but a cyclone in Bay of Bengal is likely to "weaken" its progress which will result in delay of its onset in Kerala, it added.

PTI