Heatwave to ease over North India in next 3 days as IMD warns of thunderstorms, strong winds
New Delhi, May 28
The India Meteorological Department has forecast a shift in weather conditions across Northwest India, with heatwave conditions expected to ease over the next three days due to incoming western disturbances and easterly winds, alongside warnings of thunderstorms, strong winds and hailstorms in several regions.
According to the IMD, maximum temperatures that have been hovering around 45 degrees Celsius or above are likely to drop sharply between May 28 and May 30, bringing much-needed relief to several northern and central states.
Speaking to ANI on Thursday, IMD scientist Akhil Srivastava said, "If we look at Northwest India, maximum temperatures have primarily been running high, hovering at 45 degrees Celsius or above. Our forecast indicates that over the coming three days, under the influence of a Western Disturbance and the simultaneous arrival of easterly winds over the plains of Northwest India, thunderstorm activity is expected across the Western Himalayan region as well as the adjacent plains."
Srivastava added that a sharp fall in temperatures is expected in the coming days.
"Consequently, a drop in maximum temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius and in some isolated pockets, up to 10 degrees Celsius is anticipated between the 28th May and the 30th May. As a result, significant relief is expected from the prevailing heatwave conditions across regions such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh," he added.
However, the IMD also cautioned about intense weather activity, including high wind speeds and thunderstorms.
"Wind speeds in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and surrounding areas could be quite high, ranging from 60 to 70 kilometres per hour, potentially reaching up to 80 kilometres per hour," Srivastava said.
He further warned that some parts of Uttar Pradesh may experience even stronger winds.
"In certain parts of Uttar Pradesh, wind speeds could range from 80 to 90 kilometres per hour, occasionally even touching 100 kilometres per hour. Warnings for hailstorms have been issued for the western regions, specifically covering Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Uttar Pradesh," he added, advising people to exercise caution.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Yaar, kya relief hai! 🥳 45 degrees was literally killing us. But hold on - thunderstorms AND hailstorms in late May? That's not normal for northern plains at this time. Climate change is real guys. Remember when summers used to be just hot and dry with the occasional dust storm? Now it's all extremes.
As an expat living in Gurgaon, this heatwave was brutal. Good to see IMD getting the forecast right - they've become much more accurate lately. A 10-degree drop in 3 days is impressive. Just hope people don't take the relief for granted and stay safe during the thunderstorms. 80 kmph winds can level shanties and knock over hoardings easily.
Good news for North India, but what about the rest of the country? Central and East India are still cooking at 42-44 degrees. The western disturbance always helps only the northwestern states. Need a more broad-based approach to heatwave management. And yes, hats off to the scientists for the precise predictions.
Living in Himachal, we desperately need this rain after an unusually dry spring. But the hailstorm warning has me worried - our apple orchards and vegetable farms could get damaged if it's severe. The temperature swing from 35 to 25 degrees in 2 days can also make people sick. Dressing up warm again might feel odd but necessary!
This is exactly what climate models have been predicting for South Asia - more extreme weather swings. We'll have intense heatwaves punctuated by rare late-season storms. Kudos to IMD for
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