IMD Issues Weather Alert: Thunderstorms, Rain, and Heatwave to Hit Several Indian Regions

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a detailed weather advisory predicting a mix of extreme weather events across India, ranging from thunderstorms and hailstorms to heatwaves and hot-humid conditions. These developments are attributed to cyclonic circulations and troughs impacting the weather systems across the northeast, central, and southern regions of the country.

Widespread Rain and Storm Activity Over East and Central India

According to IMD, states in East and Central India including Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Sikkim, East Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh are expected to experience light to moderate rainfall over the next few days. The rain will often be accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds, likely to persist till May 3.

Additionally, hailstorms have been forecasted for:

• Odisha on May 1

• East Madhya Pradesh on May 2 and 3

• Chhattisgarh on May 3

Heavy showers will dominate Odisha till May 2, while Bihar may see isolated heavy rain on May 2. These conditions are primarily driven by cyclonic systems hovering over North Bangladesh and North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, as highlighted by the IMD.

Patna and Surrounding Regions Hit by Rain and Hailstorm

Patna, the capital of Bihar, has already started experiencing intense rainfall and hailstorm activity since the morning of May 1. Gusty winds are expected to continue in the city and surrounding districts. Fluctuations in local weather are likely to persist for the next few days.

Heavy Rainfall Forecast for Northeastern States

The northeastern region of India, including Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Manipur, is likely to witness fairly widespread to widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and winds reaching speeds of 50-60 km/h.

The IMD has also warned of isolated hailstorms in Nagaland and Manipur on May 1, signaling potentially severe weather over the coming week.

Cloudy Skies and Light Rain Predicted for Delhi-NCR

Residents of Delhi and the NCR can expect partly to generally cloudy skies from May 1 to 3, with a chance of very light rain or drizzle, alongside thunderstorms and surface winds blowing between 30-50 km/h.

Despite the overcast skies, temperatures will stay relatively moderate. The maximum temperature is expected to range between 35–38°C, while minimum temperatures are forecasted to stay around 24–27°C.

Continued Rainfall in South India Till May 5

Southern states including Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh will continue to receive moderate rainfall through May 5, according to the IMD advisory.

The agency has also predicted thundersqualls over north interior Karnataka between May 1 and 4, which could cause local disruptions.

Heatwave Conditions in Northwest and Western India

While several parts of the country brace for rainfall, the IMD has simultaneously issued a heatwave alert for Northwest and Western India. Areas such as the Jammu division, Southwest Rajasthan, Saurashtra, and Kutch are likely to face extreme heat conditions on May 1, with temperatures expected to soar significantly.

In addition, hot and humid weather will prevail over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Gujarat till at least May 2, increasing discomfort in coastal and southern zones.