Weather Update: Rainfall predicted in parts of Andhra Pradesh from May 30 to June 3

Representational Image. File Pic

The India Meteorological Department on Thursday has predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds in parts of Andhra Pradesh for five days from May 30, reported PTI.

Rainfall accompanied by strong winds is expected to occcur in parts of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh (NCAP), Yanam, South Coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP) and Rayalaseema.

Winds up to speeds of 40 km per hour (kmph) have been forecast, according to a Meteorological department release.

Besides thunderstorms, the department predicted heavy rain in parts of Rayalaseema on June 2, said the PTI report.

Meanwhile, a Met department official noted that the Southwest Monsoon has set in over Kerala and advanced into most parts of Northeast India on Thursday.

Weather update: Once monsoon arrives in Kerala, will take 8-10 days to cover Maharashtra, says IMD

Director of India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai, Sunil Kamble said the monsoon will take eight to ten days to cover Maharashtra after arriving in Kerala. Sunil Kamble said that the monsoon is expected to reach Kerala in the next 24 hours, reported news agency ANI.

"If you talk about Mumbai, the temperature range of Mumbai is 35-36 degrees centigrade. And for the summer season, these are quite normal temperatures. But because of the high humidity, like 80% to 90% humidity is there. That's why even at 35 percent-36 percent centigrade, we are getting the feel of 40 degrees. And if you look in and around Maharashtra, the temperature range is between 38 percent and 40 percent centigrade...," Kamble told ANI.

Weather update: Advanced monsoon

"The normal date of the onset of monsoon over Kerala is June 1. But we are expecting an advanced monsoon, and within 24 hours, we are expecting the monsoon to reach Kerala. Once the monsoon arrives in Kerala, it takes eight to ten days to cover Maharashtra, especially Mumbai..," Kamble added.

He said that the IMD has already issued a long-range forecast. "This season we will have more rainfall than normal," he said, reported ANI.

In 2023, rainfall over the country as a whole during monsoon season (June-September), was 94 per cent of its long-period average, reported ANI.

The advance of the southwest monsoon over the Indian mainland is marked by monsoon onset over Kerala and is an important indicator characterising the transition from a hot and dry season to a rainy season.

As the monsoon progresses northward, relief from scorching summer temperatures is experienced over the areas that it tends to cover. These rains are crucial to the Indian agriculture economy (especially for kharif crops). India has three cropping seasons -- summer, kharif and rabi.

Weather update: Above-normal rainfall

At a press conference on Monday, IMD chief said that above-normal rainfall is expected this monsoon season across the country in a much-needed respite from the heatwave sweeping the country.

Director General of Meteorology, IMD, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra had said, "The South West Monsoon rainfall over the country as a whole is likely to be 106 per cent of the long-period average with a model error of 4 per cent. Thus, above-normal rainfall is most likely over the country as a whole," reported ANI.

The forecast follows the prediction of above-normal rain this monsoon riding on favourable La Nina conditions, expected to set in between August and September.

The weather office said that the heatwave across India will likely decline from May 30, warning of severe heatwave over northwest India over the next three days.