New Delhi: After days of severe heatwave conditions across large parts of India, the weather is likely to change from May 28 as a fresh western disturbance becomes active over northwest India. According to the India Meteorological Department, several states, including Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, may witness thunderstorms, rain and hail between May 28 and May 30.
The forecast comes at a time when north and central India are facing intense heat. Many districts in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Punjab and Haryana continue to remain under heatwave conditions. Day temperatures in several areas have reached between 43 and 47 degrees Celsius, making outdoor movement difficult for people.
The heat has not spared the hill states either. Himachal Pradesh has also reported unusually high temperatures, with Una recording 41.6 degrees Celsius, the highest in the state. Heatwave alerts have been issued for some areas, showing the scale of the current weather stress.
Weather experts say the approaching western disturbance may bring strong winds, lightning and rainfall to several parts of northwest India. Wind speed may touch 60 to 80 kmph in Delhi NCR, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The change in weather could bring down temperatures by around 5 to 7 degrees Celsius, offering much needed relief from the ongoing heat spell.
Meanwhile, south India is expected to continue receiving active monsoon related rainfall over the next few days. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana may see heavy showers along with gusty winds. Rain activity is also likely in the northeast, with Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura expected to receive light to moderate rain. Parts of Arunachal Pradesh may witness heavy to very heavy rainfall.
The report also highlights concerns over the possible impact of El Nino on the monsoon. El Nino is a natural climate condition linked to warmer than normal sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. Experts say a strong El Nino can reduce monsoon rainfall over India and raise the risk of dry conditions in some regions.
The IMD notes that India normally receives around 870 mm rainfall during the June to September monsoon period. However, this year, El Nino related factors may influence rainfall distribution. Globally, a strong or super El Nino can also trigger drought in some countries and heavy floods in others.
For now, the immediate focus remains on the western disturbance, which may bring short term relief to heat hit regions. However, the larger monsoon pattern will be closely watched in the coming weeks, especially because rainfall remains crucial for agriculture, water supply and rural livelihoods.