A man stands by the Arabian Sea coast as it drizzles in Kochi, in the southern India state of Kerala, Monday, May 28, 2018. (AP Photo/R.S. Iyer)
Over 30 people were killed on Tuesday after thunderstorms struck parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Heavy rain will also lash parts of Kerala as the Southwest Monsoon further advances in the state. Fishermen have been advised not to venture out to sea along coasts of Kerala and Karnataka today and tomorrow.
The India Meteorological Department (Met Dept) said that the Monsoon hit the Kerala coast on May 29, three days ahead of its normal date. Skymet, a private weather agency, meanwhile, marked the arrival of Monsoon in the state on Monday.
The Met Dept has forecasted squally weather in parts of Lakshadweep, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Monsoon has also further advanced into parts of Southeast Arabian Sea, Maldives, Comorin areas and southwest Bay of Bengal, parts of Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Meanwhile, heatwave conditions are expected to continue across North India. The sweltering weather is likely to persist in parts of West Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh and Delhi.
A view of Kochi harbour. (Source: Express photo by Nandagopal Rajan)
Highlights
With the onset of the southwest monsoon in Kerala, we can all breathe a sigh of relief. The monsoon, which feeds majority of the country delivering at least 70 per cent of India's annual rainfall, will gradually cover the west coast, before moving over central and north India. June 1, which is usually when the monsoon arrives in Kerala, is three days early this year. The IMD has predicted "normal" rainfall this season.
The southwest monsoon today hit Kerala, three days before its scheduled arrival, says the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The onset of monsoon over the southern state marks the commencement of the four-month-long rainy season in the country. Skymet, a private weather agency, meanwhile marked the Monsoon on Monday in the state
The IMD has made a forecast of "normal" rainfall this season
After Bihar and Jharkhand, ten people were killed and five others were injured after a thunderstorm struck some parts of Uttar Pradesh, reported IANS. Of the nine victims, five were from Unnao district. The other four deaths were reported from Rae Bareli and Kanpur rural. Respective district magistrates have been directed to undertake rescue works and ensure distribution of relief in 24 hours, Principal Secretary, Information, Avinish Awasthi told PTI.
Atleast 17 people are dead due to thunderstorm in different parts of Bihar, reports ANI
The IMD has also forecasted that thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hailstone is likely to occur today during the next 3 hours over some areas in Hardoi, Sitapur, Farrukhabad districts & adjoining areas
Atleast 12 people have been killed and 28 injured due to thunderstorms in parts of Jharkhand, reports ANI
The minimum temperature in Delhi recorded on Tuesday was at 25.2 degrees Celsius, one notch below the season's average, IMD said. "The sky will remain partly cloudy with chances of dust storm or thunderstorm in the evening or night," an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official told IANS.
The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 43 degrees Celsius. The humidity at 8.30 a.m. was 47 per cent.
Skymet, a private weather agency has also predicted thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds and lightning at places in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Parts of Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and West Bengal experienced rainfall on Monday. While Kottayam, Kochi, Nedumbassery and Chamrajnagar recorded 3cms of rainfall, Hut Bay in Andaman Island recorded 6cm and Lakshadweep's Agathi and Aminidivi recorded 2cms of rain, the IMD said.
Welcome. While heavy rain is expected to lash parts of South India, North India will continue to battle the heatwave. Follow this space to track all the latest developments