New Delhi : The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast an active southwest monsoon over northwest, central and eastern India, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, flash flood risks in vulnerable areas and a significant drop in temperatures in Delhi after a hot and humid weekend.
Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall has been predicted over Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and several northeastern states in the coming days. In Delhi, maximum temperatures are expected to fall sharply from around 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday to nearly 30 degrees Celsius by Tuesday as monsoon activity intensifies.
The national capital is likely to witness scattered thunderstorms and heavy rainfall from Monday to Wednesday, bringing daytime temperatures down to the low 30s.
According to the IMD, Delhi is expected to record maximum temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 37 degrees Celsius on Monday, 30 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, 33 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, 35 degrees Celsius on Thursday, 36 degrees Celsius on Friday and 32 degrees Celsius on Saturday.
On Sunday, Delhi is likely to experience scattered rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and strong surface winds of 20-30 kmph.
In the National Capital Region, Ghaziabad is expected to record a minimum temperature of 34 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 39 degrees Celsius, while Gurugram may see a minimum temperature of 34 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 40 degrees Celsius. Faridabad is expected to remain comparatively cooler, with temperatures ranging between 29 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.
The IMD has forecast widespread rainfall across the Northeast throughout the week, with heavy rainfall likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.
In northwest India, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Isolated extremely heavy rainfall over parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand could increase the risk of flash floods and landslides.
Central India is likely to receive widespread rainfall over Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha.
Eastern India is also expected to remain under the influence of active monsoon conditions, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall forecast over West Bengal and Sikkim, while Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand are likely to receive heavy to very heavy showers.
Western India will see widespread rainfall over Konkan and Goa, while Gujarat and parts of Maharashtra are likely to receive scattered showers.
Southern India is also expected to remain under an active monsoon spell, with widespread rainfall likely over Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, along with thunderstorms and gusty winds in several areas.
