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The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a series of weather alerts across India, forecasting significant rainfall and thunderstorms in various regions. The advisory highlights the complex and dynamic nature of weather patterns across the subcontinent, with some areas bracing for severe conditions while others are expected to experience relief. This intricate interplay of meteorological factors underscores the importance of accurate forecasting and timely dissemination of information to mitigate potential impacts on communities and infrastructure. The IMD's predictions encompass a wide range of conditions, from extremely heavy rainfall in the northeast to gusty winds and thunderstorms in the northwest, showcasing the diverse climatic zones within India and the challenges of predicting weather phenomena across such a vast and varied landscape. The alerts also emphasize the importance of preparedness and vigilance, particularly in areas prone to flooding and landslides, as extreme weather events can pose significant risks to human life and property. The IMD's role in providing timely and accurate information is crucial for enabling individuals and communities to take appropriate measures to protect themselves and their assets. The current weather patterns are influenced by a combination of factors, including the advance of the southwest monsoon and the presence of a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal. These factors interact to create a complex web of atmospheric conditions that can lead to significant variations in weather patterns across different regions. Understanding these interactions is essential for improving the accuracy of weather forecasts and providing more effective warnings to the public. The IMD's efforts to monitor and predict these weather patterns are critical for ensuring the safety and well-being of millions of people across India. The alerts issued by the IMD highlight the importance of regional variations in weather conditions. While some areas are facing the threat of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, others are experiencing relatively stable conditions. This regional diversity underscores the need for localized weather forecasts that can provide more specific information to communities in different parts of the country. The IMD's network of weather stations and monitoring equipment plays a crucial role in gathering the data necessary to generate these localized forecasts. The agency's efforts to improve the accuracy and granularity of its forecasts are essential for ensuring that communities have the information they need to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events. The issuance of a Red Alert for extremely heavy rainfall in the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh underscores the severity of the expected conditions in this region. A Red Alert is typically issued when there is a high risk of significant disruption and damage due to severe weather. In this case, the Red Alert indicates a high probability of widespread flooding, landslides, and other hazards that could pose a significant threat to human life and property. The IMD's warning emphasizes the need for immediate action to protect vulnerable populations and infrastructure. The Orange Alert issued for Delhi, warning of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms, indicates a lower but still significant risk of adverse weather conditions. An Orange Alert typically suggests that people should be prepared for potential disruptions and take necessary precautions to minimize the impact of the weather. In Delhi, the Orange Alert highlights the possibility of localized flooding, traffic congestion, and other disruptions that could affect daily life. The IMD's warning encourages residents to stay informed and take appropriate measures to protect themselves and their property. The forecast of relief from recent rainfall in Mumbai provides a welcome respite for residents who have experienced heavy downpours in recent days. The IMD's prediction of improving conditions in Mumbai suggests that the city is likely to experience relatively stable weather in the coming days. However, the IMD also emphasizes the need for continued vigilance, as weather patterns can change rapidly and unexpected events can occur. The agency encourages residents to stay informed and be prepared for potential changes in the weather forecast. The IMD's forecast of extremely heavy rainfall over Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and ghat areas of Tamil Nadu highlights the vulnerability of these regions to extreme weather events. The coastal areas of India are particularly susceptible to heavy rainfall and flooding, due to their proximity to the ocean and their exposure to monsoon winds. The IMD's warning emphasizes the need for coastal communities to be prepared for potential disruptions and to take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their property. The agency's efforts to monitor and predict weather patterns in these regions are critical for ensuring the safety and well-being of coastal populations. The impact of the Deep Depression area over the Northwest Bay of Bengal on weather patterns across India underscores the interconnectedness of weather systems. The movement of this weather system across the Bay of Bengal has had a significant influence on rainfall patterns in various parts of the country, including the northeastern states, West Bengal, and Sikkim. The IMD's monitoring of this weather system is crucial for understanding its potential impact on different regions and providing timely warnings to the public.
The extended forecast provided by the IMD offers a comprehensive overview of expected weather conditions across India in the coming days. The prediction of very heavy rainfall over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during 30 May-1 June, and over Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura during the next 7 days, underscores the persistent risk of heavy rainfall and flooding in these regions. The IMD's warning emphasizes the need for continued vigilance and preparedness in these areas. The forecast of extremely heavy rainfall over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura on 30 May, and similar conditions over Arunachal Pradesh on 30 May, highlights the potential for severe disruptions and damage in these states. The IMD's warning encourages residents to take immediate action to protect themselves and their property. The prediction of exceptionally heavy rainfall (>30cm) over Meghalaya on 30 May underscores the particularly high risk of severe flooding in this state. The IMD's warning emphasizes the need for extreme caution and immediate action to protect vulnerable populations and infrastructure. The IMD's forecast for South India includes a prediction of rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds speed reaching 40-50 kmph over Kerala, Mahe, and Karnataka during 30 May-1 June. The agency also predicts similar conditions over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Rayalaseema, and Telangana during 30 and 31 May. These warnings highlight the potential for widespread disruptions and damage due to severe weather in South India. The IMD's forecast also includes predictions of heavy rainfall over Coastal Karnataka on 31 May and 1 June, and South Interior Karnataka on 30 May. These warnings emphasize the need for communities in these areas to be prepared for potential flooding and other hazards. The IMD's forecast for West India includes a prediction of heavy rainfall likely over Konkan and Goa on 1 and 2 June. This warning highlights the potential for disruptions and damage due to severe weather in these coastal regions. The IMD's forecast for East and Central India includes a prediction of rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds speed reaching 40-50 kmph likely over Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar during 30 May- 1 June. The agency also predicts heavy rainfall likely over Bihar on 30 May, and similar conditions over Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha on 30 May. These warnings highlight the potential for widespread disruptions and damage due to severe weather in East and Central India. The IMD's forecast for Northwest India includes a prediction of rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds speed reaching 40-50 kmph likely over Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi from 30 May to 2 June. The agency also forecasts rainfall over Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan during 30 May-2 June. These warnings highlight the potential for widespread disruptions and damage due to severe weather in Northwest India. The IMD also predicts thundersquall wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi on 30 May, and thundersquall in Himachal Pradesh on 31 May and 1 June. These warnings emphasize the need for extreme caution and preparedness in these areas. The IMD also predicts heavy rainfall over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad on 30 and 31 May, and similar conditions are likely to prevail over Himachal Pradesh on 31 May and 1 June, and over Uttarakhand during 30 May -2 June. The agency also predicts dust storm over West Rajasthan on 30 May. The IMD's information regarding the advance of the Southwest Monsoon indicates that it has further advanced into some more parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, some more parts of North Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of Northeastern states and some parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and entire Sikkim on 29 May. The Northern Limit of Monsoon continues to pass through Mumbai, Ahilyanagar, Adilabad, Bhawanipatna, Puri, and Sandhead Island. Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon over some more parts of West Bengal and Bihar during next 1-2 days.
The specific weather alerts issued for Delhi and Mumbai provide further insights into the localized conditions expected in these major metropolitan areas. The Orange Alert issued for Delhi predicts rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds. The IMD also expects a dust storm followed by a thunderstorm, with light to moderate rainfall, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 40 to 70 kmph, at many places in Delhi and the NCR. This warning emphasizes the need for residents to be prepared for potential disruptions to transportation, power outages, and other hazards. The IMD reported that Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 39.1 degrees Celsius on Thursday, 1.3 notches below the seasonal average, and a minimum temperature of 29.0 degrees Celsius, 2.4 notches above normal. The relative humidity fluctuated between 63 and 49 per cent. These figures provide a snapshot of the current climatic conditions in Delhi and underscore the potential for further temperature fluctuations and changes in weather patterns. The information provided on Mumbai's weather indicates that the monsoon has officially set in. The onset of the monsoon is marked by the formation of specific weather patterns, according to the IMD. IMD scientist Shubhangi Bhute noted that the city witnessed heavy rainfall on the 24th, 25th, and 26th of May, with the city receiving approximately 135 mm and 164 mm on the 26th and 27th, respectively. The rainfall on May 18 was due to a cyclone, not the monsoon. The IMD has confirmed that there is no forecast for rainfall in Mumbai over the coming week. This provides a sense of relief for residents who have experienced recent heavy rainfall and flooding. Overall, the weather forecast for India is complex and dynamic, with significant variations in conditions across different regions. The IMD's role in monitoring and predicting these weather patterns is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of millions of people across the country. The agency's warnings and alerts provide valuable information to communities, enabling them to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events. The importance of accurate forecasting and timely dissemination of information cannot be overstated, as these factors play a critical role in mitigating the potential impacts of severe weather on human life and property. The need for continued investment in weather monitoring infrastructure and research is essential for improving the accuracy and reliability of forecasts and ensuring that communities have the information they need to stay safe and protected. The IMD plays a vital role in protecting the Indian populace from the vagaries of weather and their crucial work will become ever more important with accelerating climate change.
Source: ‘Red alert’ for extremely heavy rain in Kerala, ‘orange’ for Delhi; relief in Mumbai