Tamil Nadu, Kerala, K'taka To Witness Heavy Rainfall, Thunderstorms Till May 18: IMD

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across southern India until May 18th. Mumbai is still placed under a yellow alert.

In a recent press release on Tuesday, the regional meteorological center of Tamil Nadu predicted heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds over southern India. The situation will continue till May 18, 2024. As per the official press release by IMD, rainfall is expected to be accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Coastal & South Interior Karnataka, Konkan region, and Goa. The wind speed range anticipated is 40 to 50 kmph. In parts of Tamil Nadu, rain has already been pouring this week in abundance. 

The IMD said the southwest monsoon is anticipated to escalate in the South Andaman Sea, some parts of the Bay of Bengal in the southeast, and the Nicobar Islands. The expected time is around May 19, 2024. It also predicted a cyclonic circulation over the Southeast Arabian Sea. There is another cyclonic circulation as per the weather agency, that lies over the north equatorial Indian Ocean. 

As per the IMD predictions, these cyclonic circulations will lead to light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and stormy winds ranging from 40 to 60 kmph. The regions likely to be affected by the same are parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Gujarat state on 14th and 15th May. Apart from that, hailstorm activity is also expected to occur in the same places.

Meanwhile in places such as West Bengal, Sikkim and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, very light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning can be observed during the next 7 days. In some parts of Bihar, West Bengal, and Jharkhand light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur.

Fresh Heatwaves Likely In Parts Of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan

Fresh heatwave warnings for the northern and northwestern states of the nation such as Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, have also been issued by the agency. “Heatwave conditions are likely in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan on May 17,” IMD stated in a series of posts on X. 

While for Mumbai, the weather agency has issued a yellow alert and has also predicted heavy rains, followed by thunderstorms and dry, gusty winds. Thane and Raigad districts are to be affected majorly.