Heavy Rain and Heatwave Alerts Issued by IMD Across India

According to the IMD, the monsoon is expected to reach the South Andaman Sea, the Southeast Bay of Bengal, and the Nicobar Islands by May 19. The arrival of the monsoon in Kerala is anticipated by May 31, while Uttar Pradesh is likely to see monsoon rains around June 20, leaving over a month before heavy rainfall is expected in the state.

In the last 24 hours, heavy rainfall has been recorded in Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, and Kerala. Storms have affected Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Central Maharashtra, Konkan, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rayalaseema, and Tamil Nadu.

The highest temperature of 44.4 degrees Celsius was noted in Ganganagar, western Rajasthan. Heavy rain, thunderstorm, and lightning warnings have been issued for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Mahe, Lakshadweep, South Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Telangana, and Rayalaseema for the next seven days.

Light rain is expected over Konkan, Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, and Marathwada until May 18. Between May 19 and 22, light to moderate rainfall is predicted in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal. Odisha is expected to experience heavy rain today.

A thunderstorm and rain alert has been issued for all of Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim over the next week. Rainfall is expected in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura till the 22^nd as well.

A new Western Disturbance is anticipated to impact the Western Himalayan region starting May 17, bringing possible rainfall to Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand from May 17 to 19.

In response to soaring temperatures, an orange alert has been issued for Punjab and Haryana, and a yellow alert for Chandigarh. Severe heatwave conditions are predicted for southern Punjab and Haryana, with temperatures expected to reach 46 degrees Celsius on May 18 and 19.

The IMD advises that an orange alert requires people to "be prepared," while a yellow alert indicates they should "be updated."

Chandigarh recently recorded a maximum temperature of 41 degrees Celsius, 3.5 degrees above normal, with expectations of temperatures rising above 44 degrees Celsius over the weekend. In Mohali, the maximum temperature reached 40.9 degrees Celsius, while Panchkula recorded 39.8 degrees Celsius.

In Haryana, Nuh saw temperatures of 43.8 degrees Celsius and Sirsa 43.7 degrees Celsius. Pathankot in Punjab recorded the highest temperature at 42.7 degrees Celsius, followed by Bathinda at 42.6 degrees Celsius and Patiala at 42.4 degrees Celsius.