Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 15: The Southwest Monsoon continued its steady progress on Monday, covering the remaining parts of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and the west-central Bay of Bengal, while advancing further into Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The IMD said the current northern limit of the monsoon stretches through Harnai, Solapur, Hyderabad, Bhadrachalam, Koraput, Phulbani, Ranchi, Jamui and Muzaffarpur.
Weather conditions remain favourable for the monsoon to advance further over the next four to five days into additional parts of the central Arabian Sea, Maharashtra, the remaining regions of Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and certain areas of Chhattisgarh.
Over the past 24 hours, several regions experienced significant rainfall activity.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall, ranging between 12 and 20 centimetres, was recorded at isolated locations in Assam, while heavy rainfall of 7 to 11 centimetres was reported in coastal Karnataka, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and parts of Tamil Nadu.
Several states also witnessed thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds reaching speeds of 60 to 100 kmph, particularly in east Rajasthan, Telangana, Odisha and western Madhya Pradesh.
Looking ahead, the IMD has issued warnings for heavy to very heavy rainfall over sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya during the next six to seven days.
Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is also expected over the Northeast, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kerala, and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.
In addition, isolated heavy rainfall is likely in Bihar, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, while extremely heavy spells are possible in parts of the Northeast later this week.
Meteorologists said several weather systems are currently influencing conditions across the country.
A seasonal trough extends from Punjab to Bihar, while upper-air cyclonic circulations persist over south-central Maharashtra and south Punjab.
A western disturbance over north Pakistan is also expected to affect northwest India from June 18, bringing additional rainfall and the possibility of hailstorms over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and adjoining areas.
At the same time, heatwave conditions are likely to continue in isolated pockets of Telangana on June 15 and 16, and in Vidarbha from June 15 to 17.
Hot and humid conditions are expected to persist over Konkan and Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Odisha, while warm night conditions may prevail in parts of Konkan and Goa.
The highest maximum temperature in the country on Monday was recorded at 42.8 degrees Celsius in Phalodi, Rajasthan.
For the Delhi-NCR region, the IMD has forecast light rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds of 50 to 60 kmph, which could occasionally reach 70 kmph.
Maximum temperatures in the national capital are expected to remain between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius over the next few days, with partly to generally cloudy skies.
The IMD has also issued several precautionary advisories.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into vulnerable areas of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal until June 20 due to rough sea conditions.
Farmers in rain-affected regions have been urged to ensure proper drainage arrangements and secure standing crops against strong winds and heavy rainfall.
The public has also been cautioned about the risks associated with thunderstorms, lightning strikes and powerful winds.
Residents in heat-prone regions have been advised to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and take necessary precautions to prevent heat-related illnesses.