IMD predicts more rainfall over northeastern states of Assam and Meghalaya in next four days

GUWAHATI: A "Red Alert" has been sounded for the northeastern states of Assam and Meghalaya by the India Meteorological Department for heavy to extremely heavy rain in the next four days even as floods and landslides wreaked havoc in these two states after a week of incessant downpour.
The IMD on Tuesday warned of light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall and isolated extremely heavy rainfall over Assam-Meghalaya on Wednesday as well as thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places. The department has issued an advisory to the disaster management agencies to be on alert.

For Arunachal Pradesh, the IMD has issued an 'Orange Warning' with light to moderate rainfall at most places as also heavy to very heavy rainfall in the frontier state. For all the three northeastern states, weather conditions may slightly improve from May 20.
The 'Red Alert' has been sounded mainly for western Assam on Wednesday. Heavy to very heavy rainfall, measuring 7 to 20 cm in 24 hours (8.30 am on Wednesday to 8.30 am on Thursday) is very likely over Dhubri and South Salmara districts. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also very likely over Goalpara, Chirang, Baksa, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Dima Hasao, Cachar and Karimganj districts where floods and landslides are creating havoc.
Further, the IMD has predicted widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunder and lightning over northeastern states till May 21. Thunderstorms, lightning and heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places is also very likely over Meghalaya during this period.
Moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal is likely to continue over the northeast due to strong lower level southerly and southwesterly winds during May 17-19. The Met office said under the influence of the existing weather systems, widespread rain will continue.
Cherrapunji and Mawsynram in Meghalaya have recorded the highest rainfall in the last 24 hours. While Cherrapunji experienced 37 cm rainfall, Mawsynram recorded 32 cm rainfall, both in extremely heavy rainfall category, in the last 24 hours till Tuesday morning.