The southwest monsoon has picked up pace across northern India, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announcing that it has advanced into the remaining parts of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, most of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, besides more areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
As the monsoon spreads further, with official onset announced in Delhi, the IMD has warned of widespread rain, thunderstorms and heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across several states tomorrow as well later in the week.
The IMD said conditions remain favourable for the monsoon to advance into the remaining parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and more parts of Rajasthan over the next two to three days.
The monsoon’s progress is being supported by favourable large-scale weather conditions, bringing widespread rainfall to much of the country.
HEAVY RAIN TO LASH CENTRAL, NORTHWEST AND EAST INDIA
The heaviest rainfall is expected over central India, where West Madhya Pradesh is likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall on July 3, while Odisha is also forecast to witness extremely heavy rain.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely over East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha on Friday.
The IMD has warned of moderate to intense lightning activity across central India on July 3.
In northwest India, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are expected to receive widespread rainfall over the coming days.
Isolated heavy rainfall is likely in many of these regions, with very heavy rain forecast for parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and eastern Rajasthan.
THUNDERSTORMS, GUSTY WINDS, LIGHTNING COMING TOO
Apart from heavy rain, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-60 kmph are expected across large parts of north, central and eastern India.
West Rajasthan may also experience thundersqualls with winds gusting up to 70 kmph, along with isolated duststorm activity on July 2.
Eastern India is also set for an active spell.
Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are likely to receive widespread rainfall through July 8, with isolated spells of very heavy rain in Odisha and West Bengal.
The IMD has advised residents in areas under heavy rainfall warnings to remain alert, as intense downpours can trigger waterlogging, localised flooding, reduced visibility and disruptions to transport.
Frequent lightning and strong winds may also damage weak structures and uproot trees.
With the southwest monsoon now covering almost the entire country, rainfall activity is expected to remain vigorous over many regions through the first week of July, bringing much-needed rain.
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