Monsoon slowdown persists; Delhi may see rain relief, Northeast under heavy rain alert

Delhi is likely to witness light rain, thunderstorms, and dust storm activity on Friday, June 19, while heavy rainfall is expected to continue across parts of Northeast India and the eastern Himalayan region, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Heatwave conditions are also expected to persist across parts of central India and the Deccan region.

The southwest monsoon remains sluggish, with its northern limit unchanged for several days. The IMD said conditions remain favourable for further advance into more parts of Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh over the next four to five days.

The heaviest rainfall for the day is likely over Assam and Meghalaya. A heavy downpour is also expected over Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are likely to continue receiving very heavy rainfall, raising the risk of waterlogging, landslides, and localized flooding in vulnerable areas.

Bihar remains under a heavy rainfall warning through Friday, with the IMD also forecasting thundersqualls with wind speeds reaching 60-80 kmph in isolated areas. Similar strong wind activity is likely over parts of Odisha and Jharkhand.

In southern India, widespread rainfall is expected over Kerala, Coastal Karnataka, and Lakshadweep. Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal are likely to receive widespread rainfall on Friday, while thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are forecast across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.

For Delhi, the IMD has forecast a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of very light rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and dust storms during the forenoon or afternoon. Strong winds of 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, are likely during thunderstorm activity. Maximum temperatures are expected to range between 40°C and 42°C, while minimum temperatures are likely to remain between 27°C and 29°C.

Heatwave conditions are expected over East Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra, and Marathwada, while hot and humid weather is likely to prevail over Odisha, Konkan and Goa, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Rayalaseema.

(Edited by : Tenzin Norzom)