The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) foresees scorching heatwave conditions in scattered regions spanning Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, North Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, Rayalaseema, and Telangana over the upcoming five-day period.
Alongside the heatwaves, the IMD anticipates thunderstorms and lightning occurrences across “Sub Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim throughout the following seven days, with sporadic hailstorm activity also plausible over the region by 5 April.”
“Scattered light to moderate precipitation accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning expected over Jharkhand from 6th to 9th April, and Bihar on 7th and 8th April,” it supplemented. The meteorological entity has additionally outlined areas experiencing elevated temperatures, including 43.7 Celsius in Nandyal (Rayalaseema), 43.5 Celsius in Bhubaneshwar (Odisha), 43.3 Celsius in Gulbarga (North Karnataka), 42 Celsius in Ramagundam (Telangana), and others.
The IMD has also prophesied rainfall in the northeast region for the ensuing seven days. “Moderately widespread to widespread light/moderate rainfall/snowfall accompanied by isolated thunderstorms and lightning expected over Arunachal Pradesh; scattered to moderately widespread light to moderate rainfall with isolated thunderstorms, lightning, and brisk winds (40-50 kmph) over Assam & Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura over the next seven days,” it articulated.
Furthermore, it appended that “isolated heavy rainfall/snowfall probable over Arunachal Pradesh during 6-9 April with the potential for exceptionally heavy rainfall on 6 April and isolated heavy rainfall anticipated over Assam & Meghalaya on 6 April.”
Formerly, Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Kiren Rijiju had communicated that Lok Sabha elections were imminent and measures had been instituted for the impending heatwave. “We conducted a two-day summit with state administrations concerning preparatory measures and disseminated advisories accordingly,” he stated.
Delving into the ongoing heatwave circumstances, Rijiju expounded, “As per our forecasts, a substantial expanse of the nation is poised to be impacted by the heatwave, encompassing states such as West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka.”