Monsoon Delay And Severe Heatwave Conditions Persist Across India, Says IMD

The monsoon has not progressed since June 11. The northern limit runs through Navsari, Jalgaon, Amravati, Chandrapur, Bijapur, Sukma, Malkangiri, Vizianagaram, and Islampur, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD noted favourable conditions for the monsoon to advance into Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and other regions in the next four to five days.

Heavy Rainfall Expected in Northeast India

"Heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rain is very likely to continue over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, and Northeast India during the next four to five days," noted the IMD. Meanwhile, heatwave conditions will persist in northern India for the same duration.

Monsoon Outlook and Temperature Observations

Mahesh Palawat, climate expert at Skymet Weather, said, "Monsoon is expected to remain weak for the next three to four days. It may move to West Bengal and Jharkhand, and then to the Himalayan foothills before reaching Delhi and Haryana by month-end." The strong westerly winds are preventing the moist easterly winds from advancing over the northwestern states.

Heatwave Conditions Continue

On Thursday, the Safdarjung Observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 44.8°C, which is 4.9 degrees above normal. Rainfall deficiency increased from 1% on Wednesday to 9% on Friday. The deficiency is 57% over northwest India and 30% over east and northeast India. Central India shows a 9% deficiency, while Peninsular India has 50% excess rainfall, according to the IMD.

Severe Heatwave in Various Regions

The IMD reported severe heatwave conditions in many parts of Uttar Pradesh, parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi until June 18. Jharkhand and Uttarakhand will experience similar conditions until June 15. Isolated heatwave conditions are expected over western parts of Gangetic West Bengal and Bihar until June 15. Himachal Pradesh, Jammu Division, northeast Madhya Pradesh, north Rajasthan, and north Chhattisgarh will also face heatwave conditions until mid-June.

High Temperatures Across Northern India

On Thursday, maximum temperatures between 44-47°C were recorded in many parts of Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi, and in parts of west Jharkhand, southwest Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and north Rajasthan. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall was observed in isolated places in Assam, Meghalaya, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, North Interior Karnataka, Konkan, Goa, Telangana, Marathwada, and Bihar.

Extended Heatwave Days in India

Data from the IMD indicates that 14 of 36 subdivisions in India have recorded over 15 heatwave days between March 1 and June 9. This period is considered one of the longest and most severe summers on record.