New Delhi, 30 May (H.S.): Following forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), light to moderate rain accompanied by strong winds brought relief from severe heat and heatwaves to Delhi-NCR on Saturday, while large parts of the country remain at risk of thunderstorms, squalls and heavy rainfall.

Meteorologists said the changing weather has eased the intense heat that gripped much of central India in recent days, and the heatwave’s impact is likely to weaken over other regions on Sunday as well. The southwest monsoon is advancing rapidly. Heavy downpours are expected at times over northeast India and parts of the south peninsular region through this week.

IMD has forecast light rain with thunder and strong winds in the capital on Sunday. Wind speeds may remain between 40–50 km/h, increasing to around 60 km/h in the evening. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be in the ranges of 36–38°C and 23–25°C respectively. On June 1 and 2, partly cloudy conditions are likely. Maximum and minimum temperatures on June 1 are likely to be 37–39°C and 24–26°C, and on June 2 around 38–40°C and 26–28°C respectively.

According to the IMD, the monsoon advanced further today into the southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, the Lakshadweep–Comorin area, and the central and northeastern parts of the Bay of Bengal. Conditions remain favourable for further progress of the monsoon into Kerala, parts of Tamil Nadu, remaining areas of the Arabian Sea and the remaining parts of the Bay of Bengal over the next four to five days.

Light to moderate rainfall is likely over northeast India. Heavy rain is possible in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura from May 31 to June 1 and again on June 4–5; in Assam and Meghalaya from June 1–5; and in Arunachal Pradesh during June 2–5.

Over south peninsular India, light to moderate thunderous rain is expected in south interior Karnataka on May 31; in coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal and north interior Karnataka at isolated places from May 31 to June 3. Heavy rain is possible at isolated places in south interior Karnataka on May 31, in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal from May 31 to June 3, in Kerala and Mahe from May 31 to June 5, and over Lakshadweep on May 31 to June 1 and again on June 4–5.

In eastern India, light to moderate thunderous rain is likely over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from May 31 to June 5; in Gangetic West Bengal on May 31; in Bihar on June 1; in sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim from June 2–5; and in Jharkhand and Odisha from May 31 to June 5. Heavy rain is possible in Odisha during May 31–June 1 and in sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim on June 4–5.

In northwest India, light to moderate rain is likely in Uttarakhand on May 31 and in Jammu & Kashmir on June 4–5. Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh may receive light to moderate rain from May 31 to June 1, while parts of Rajasthan could see similar activity over the next seven days. Hailstorms are possible at some places in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and eastern Rajasthan on May 31. Widespread dusty winds are very likely in eastern Rajasthan on May 31 and in western Rajasthan on June 1.

In central India, light to moderate rain is expected in eastern Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh from May 31 to June 3. Heavy rainfall is likely in west Madhya Pradesh from May 30 to June 1. Hailstorms may occur at isolated places in parts of Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha on May 31 and in Chhattisgarh on May 30.

In western India, light to moderate rain is likely in Konkan and Goa from May 31 to June 4, in south Madhya Maharashtra from May 31 to June 4, in Marathwada from May 31 to June 3, and across Gujarat from May 30 to June 5. Isolated heavy rain is likely over parts of Gujarat from May 31 to June 2. Isolated hail is possible in central Maharashtra on June 2.

Certain pockets of Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana may still experience heatwave conditions tomorrow, while Konkan may remain hot and humid.

In the past 24 hours, some areas of Bihar recorded heavy rainfall of 11–20 cm; heavy rains of up to 7–11 cm were also reported in Uttarakhand, Punjab, west Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Hailstorms were reported at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, west Rajasthan, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, and dust storms affected parts of Rajasthan. Although the heatwave has weakened in these regions, parts of west Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha continued to experience heat conditions over the last 24 hours.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar