India is in for a turbulent Friday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a dramatic mix of thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, and relentless heat for several parts of the country on Friday, May 8, as the pre-monsoon season gathers pace.
WHERE WILL THE STORMS STRIKE?
The most intense activity will unfold in the hills. A thundersquall, which is a sudden and violent burst of storm-force wind, is expected over Uttarakhand, with speeds reaching 50 to 60 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 70 kmph.
That is enough force to uproot trees, bring down branches, and damage weakly-built structures.
People in the region are advised to stay indoors, unplug electrical appliances, and keep away from trees.
Further east, the northeast braces for scattered thunderstorms.
Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura will see thunderstorm activity with gusty winds over the next two days.
Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also set for stormy weather.
Isolated thunderstorm activity is expected across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh as well.
WHICH STATES ARE FACING A HEATWAVE?
While storms sweep through some corners of the country, the Sun is doing its worst elsewhere.
Rajkot in Gujarat recorded a blistering 42.9 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the highest maximum temperature recorded in the country this year.
Heat wave conditions are expected to grip West Rajasthan and Gujarat between May 9 and 13, with temperatures set to rise by two to three degrees Celsius across Gujarat in the coming days.
Delhi, meanwhile, gets a mild Friday. Maximum temperatures are expected to range between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius under a mainly clear sky.
WILL SOUTH INDIA GET RAIN?
The real relief lies in the south.
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal will receive isolated to scattered thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rainfall, and IMD says this wet spell will persist for the next seven days.
These are the classic pre-monsoon showers that farmers across southern India depend on, popularly known as mango showers.
According to IMD, India’s national rainfall last week was 79 per cent above its long-period average, a remarkable statistic for early May.
The southwest monsoon is also expected to make its first landfall over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by the end of the month.
If you are stepping out on Friday, do not leave home without that umbrella.
– Ends