Monsoon has picked up its pace in India, due to which an alert of heavy rain and thunderstorm has been issued in many states of the country.
According to the Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy rains with strong winds are expected in many parts of North, West and Central India in the next few days. According to the latest update of the India Meteorological Department, the weather will be mixed in different parts of the country today i.e. on June 20. Let us know the weather condition of the whole of India in detail.
Which states will be affected?
The Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rains in many states including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, and West Bengal. Delhi-NCR, Haryana and Punjab are also likely to receive light to moderate rains with thunderstorms. Monsoon is already active in parts of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in South India, and now it is moving rapidly towards the north.
Monsoon may arrive here by June 22
The southwest monsoon, which reached large parts of central, western and eastern India in the last two days, may hit Delhi, Haryana and parts of Punjab in the next one to two days. According to the IMD, rainfall is expected in large parts of northwestern India including Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, eastern Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh between June 20 and June 25. An IMD official confirmed that the monsoon may reach Delhi by June 22 before the normal date of June 30.
According to the IMD, the remaining parts of the country are also likely to receive monsoon rains before the normal date in the next week. The lack of rainfall since early June led to a sharp rise in temperatures, causing people to face heatwave conditions in large parts of northwestern and central India from June 8-9.
According to the IMD, the monsoon advanced rapidly from June 16 to June 18 due to the formation of a low pressure area over West Bengal and Gujarat. The monsoon usually hits Kerala by June 1, reaches Mumbai by June 11 and the entire country receives rains due to this weather system till July 8.
North India: Relief from rain and heat
Monsoon is making its presence felt, which is expected to bring relief from the heat in many states. Delhi-NCR is likely to witness light to moderate rains with cloudy weather and strong winds at the speed of 30-40 km/hr today. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Delhi, with the maximum temperature expected to be 34-36 degrees Celsius and the minimum 27 degrees Celsius.
As the monsoon progresses in Uttar Pradesh, eastern and western districts may receive light to moderate rains. Areas like Bareilly and Gorakhpur have already recorded heavy rains. Monsoon is active in Bihar as well, and a lightning alert has been issued for June 20 along with heavy rains.
Light to moderate rain and thundershowers are expected in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. Rain will make the weather pleasant in districts like Dehradun, Tehri, and Nainital in Uttarakhand. However, the effect of heat along with humidity will remain in some places in Haryana and Punjab, where the temperature can remain up to 36-39 degrees Celsius.
East and Northeast India: Red alert for heavy rains
Monsoon activity is at its peak in eastern India. IMD has issued a red alert for Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Gangetic West Bengal. These areas are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall from June 19-21, with strong winds at the speed of 40-50 kmph and lightning.
Schools in five districts of Jharkhand, including Ranchi, will remain closed on Friday after the India Meteorological Department predicted heavy rain. All schools in Ranchi, Khunti and West Singhbhum districts will remain closed on Friday while classes up to Class VIII will remain suspended in East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts. Schools in Ranchi and Khunti remained closed on Thursday due to incessant rain since Wednesday. The IMD has issued a ‘red’ alert (heavy to very heavy rain) for Ranchi from 8.30 am on Thursday to 8.30 am on Friday.
There is also a heavy rain alert in northeastern states like Assam, Meghalaya, and Sikkim. The risk of floods and landslides may increase in these areas, for which the local administration has been advised to remain alert. Bihar is also likely to receive heavy rains after the onset of monsoon, especially between June 20-23.
Western India: Mixed weather
Gujarat, Konkan, and Madhya Maharashtra are likely to receive heavy rains on June 20. A yellow alert has been issued for Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad, where the temperature is expected to be 30-34°C and humidity 75-80%. However, the rain will bring down the temperature and bring relief from the heat.
Heat wave will continue in Rajasthan, where the temperature may remain between 38-42 degrees Celsius. There may be light rain at some places, but discomfort will remain due to humidity. The maximum temperature in Jaisalmer was recorded at 43.1 degrees Celsius.
The IMD has issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rains in several districts of Maharashtra today. A ‘red alert’ has been declared in the Konkan region and parts of western Maharashtra due to the monsoon activity. The weather department has appealed to people to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel. The IMD has issued a red alert for Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Pune and Satara districts. These districts are likely to receive more than 20 cm of rain in the next 24 hours, accompanied by strong winds and lightning. An orange alert has been issued for Mumbai, Thane and Palghar, where heavy to very heavy rains are expected.
According to the Meteorological Department, the low pressure area formed in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea has further strengthened the monsoon. Mumbai recorded 135.4 mm of rain in the last 24 hours, causing waterlogging in many low-lying areas and traffic disruptions. Murud in Raigad recorded 370 mm and Harnai 310 mm, which is one of the highest rainfalls of this season.
Rivers in the Konkan region are in spate due to heavy rains, and 150 families were evacuated to safer places due to overflowing of the Banganga river in Phaltan, Satara. One person died due to lightning in Raigad. Onion crops have suffered heavy losses in Nashik, Pune and Solapur, leaving farmers in distress.
South India: Monsoon activity
In South India, light to moderate rains will continue in Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu due to active monsoon. Heavy rains are expected in Kerala and coastal Karnataka, which may lead to above normal rainfall. The temperature will remain between 30-34 degrees Celsius, but it will remain humid due to high humidity.
Central India: Mix of heat and rain
Light to moderate rain is expected in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh with the progress of monsoon. However, heatwave conditions will continue as the temperature may touch 43 degrees Celsius in some parts of Madhya Pradesh. The temperature in Indore is expected to hover between 36-39 degrees Celsius, and light rain may bring some relief.
IMD’s advice and precautions
IMD has advised people to remain alert in view of the danger of floods and landslides in areas receiving heavy rainfall. People have been advised not to go out in open spaces to avoid strong winds and lightning. People in heat-affected areas have been advised to drink enough water, wear light clothes, and avoid going out during the afternoon.
