Prolonged Rain & Thunderstorms in Arunachal, Assam, Meghalaya; Temperatures to Remain Low

A major trough or wind discontinuity stretches from Sub-Himalayan West Bengal to Chhattisgarh, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This will contribute to the formation of wet weather throughout Northeast India, especially Sikkim and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, over the following few days.

As a result, light to moderate scattered to quite widespread showers may fall in northern portions of the country over the next 24 hours, gradually diminishing afterwards. Thunderstorms, lightning, and strong gusts are expected to follow this happy wet patch.

While rain is expected to fall more heavily in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya than in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, all NE states will likely remain wet until Friday (April 28). According to preliminary IMD estimates, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim would take the brunt of this rain area, with very widespread rainfall expected through Wednesday (April 26).

The inclement weather will keep daytime temperatures in Itanagar, Arunchal, around 30-31°C until the end of the week. Despite the rain, Assam will be slightly hotter, with Guwahati's maximum temperatures expected to gradually rise to 34°C by Friday.

On a chilly note, much of Meghalaya is expected to be around 30°C through the end of the week, with Shillong daytime mercuries hovering around 26°C until Friday.

However, Darjeeling is expected to be the chilliest of all the tourist destinations in this area of the country at this time, with maximum temperatures hovering around 18-20°C until Friday, according to the IMD. If you're planning a vacation to the district, keep in mind that it will remain raining until at least the weekend.

However, it remains to be seen whether this extended period of rain will lift the Northeast states out of their chronic drought. According to IMD data, Arunachal Pradesh (205 mm against the normal of 397 mm) and the N.M.M.T. states (110 mm against the normal of 160 mm) have been experiencing insufficient rainfall since the beginning of the month.

Assam and Meghalaya fared marginally better during this period, with 177 mm of rain compared to a normal of 206 mm. Sikkim and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, on the other hand, have been revelling in the pre-monsoon rains, gathering 187 mm compared to their combined total of 145 mm during this time.