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India's Monsoon: Flood vs. Heat Paradox
19 Jun
Summary
- North Bengal and Northeast face flood risks from heavy monsoon rains.
- Delhi-NCR faces heatwave with temperatures up to 42°C despite storm alerts.
- Thunderstorms and strong winds forecast across northwest and central India.
India is experiencing a dramatic contrast in its monsoon weather patterns. While North Bengal and the Northeast face significant flood risks from heavy rainfall and landslides, other areas continue to battle oppressive heat and humidity. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for isolated areas in North Bengal, warning of over 20 cm of daily rainfall.
Meanwhile, Delhi-NCR is under a yellow alert for thunderstorms and gusty winds, but temperatures are expected to remain high, around 39-42 degrees Celsius. Satellite imagery highlights widespread lightning activity across eastern and central India, underscoring the volatile conditions.
Even within West Bengal, there's a disparity, with South Bengal seeing a subdued monsoon spell initially. Meteorologists attribute this to the seasonal trough's position near the Himalayan foothills. Rainfall activity is anticipated to increase over South Bengal after June 20.
Across northwest and central India, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and strong winds are forecast throughout the weekend. High wind speeds of 60-70 kmph, with gusts up to 80 kmph, are expected in some areas. Parts of the western coastline, including Konkan, Goa, and Coastal Karnataka, are set to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Despite a slower-than-expected progression, the monsoon continues to advance across states like Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Bihar. The pace of this advancement is critical for the upcoming kharif sowing season for farmers.
