Heatwave alert: IMD predicts intense heat across many states in India

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heatwave alert, anticipating intense heat across many states in India.

In its latest briefing, the IMD forecasts a prolonged heatwave in states including Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab over the next five days. Meanwhile, Northeast India is expected to experience enhanced rainfall and thunderstorm activity until April 7.

Earlier predictions by the IMD highlighted the likelihood of “extreme heat” across several Indian states in the coming months, with an increase in above-normal heatwave days projected over most plain regions.

Specific regions such as north interior Karnataka, Odisha, gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Telangana, Rayalaseema, coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Yanam are forecasted to experience heatwave conditions during specific periods from April 3 to April 6.

Furthermore, warm night conditions are expected in isolated pockets over Odisha and north interior Karnataka during the same period.

In addition to the heatwave alert, the IMD also forecasts light to moderate rainfall along with thunderstorms over Northeast India until April 9. Various regions across India including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, and others are likely to experience varying degrees of rainfall during specific periods in early April.