IMD Warns of Extended Heatwave; Anticipates Rainfall to Provide Relief in These States

Meteorological authorities anticipate an extended period of intense heat to persist over East and South Peninsular India for the upcoming five days. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Wednesday that severe heatwave conditions are expected to continue over coastal Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, and isolated regions of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, as well as interior Karnataka for the next five days.

Heatwave conditions are also predicted in isolated areas of Bihar, Jharkhand, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rayalaseema, and coastal Karnataka during this period. The IMD stated in a release, “Heat wave conditions in isolated pockets over Bihar, Jharkhand, Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, Telangana, Rayalaseema, during next 5 days; Coastal Karnataka during 24th – 26th, Tamil Nadu on 24th& 25th; East Uttar Pradesh during 25th – 28th and West Uttar Pradesh during 26th-28th; Konkan on 27th & 28th April.”

The weather forecasting agency has issued a red alert for Gangetic West Bengal, indicating a very high likelihood of heat illnesses and heat stroke across all age groups. The IMD advised extreme caution, especially for vulnerable individuals, with authorities emphasizing the need for appropriate preventive measures.

The agency also issued orange alerts for Odisha, Bihar, Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, Interior Karnataka, and Rayalaseema, highlighting the elevated risk of heat illness symptoms among individuals exposed to prolonged sun exposure or engaging in strenuous activities. Vulnerable populations, such as infants and the elderly, are particularly susceptible, warranting heightened precautionary measures.

Some regions may see relief in the form of a fresh spell of rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, forecasted over Northwest India from April 26 to April 28. According to the IMD, Northeast India may experience heavy rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds at isolated places on April 24, 28 and 28.

A cyclonic circulation over northeast Assam is expected to result in fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall/snowfall accompanied by isolated thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) over Arunachal Pradesh. Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura are likely to experience isolated to scattered rainfall from April 24 - 28. Isolated heavy rainfall is predicted over Arunachal Pradesh on specific dates.

Multiple weather systems including a cyclonic circulation over the Jammu division, northwest Uttar Pradesh, and a Western Disturbance over Iran and the neighbourhood are set to influence the northern regions. Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand can expect isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall/snowfall with thunderstorms, and lightning from April 24 - 28.

With cyclonic circulations over Madhya Maharashtra and Telangana, and a trough extending from Telangana to south Tamil Nadu, various areas in these regions are poised to experience weather fluctuations. Expect isolated light rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (30-50 kmph) over Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, South Madhya Pradesh, and interior Karnataka from April 24 to April 27.