New Delhi, May 22 — A low-pressure system is set to form over the east-central Arabian Sea, just off the Karnataka-Goa coast, by the evening of May 21 and could intensify into a depression by May 22, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its latest bulletin.
The development is expected to unleash a spell of intense weather across large parts of India. Extremely heavy rainfall has been forecast at isolated places over Konkan & Goa and coastal Karnataka today. From May 21 to 27, Kerala and Karnataka are likely to experience widespread light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph.
Western India is also bracing for a turbulent spell. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast in parts of Madhya Maharashtra from May 21-23, Konkan & Goa from May 21-24, and Gujarat from May 23-25. Wind speeds in these areas may reach up to 70 kmph due to thundersqualls between May 21-23.
In Rajasthan, the western parts are likely to witness dust storms with winds of 40-50 kmph on May 22 and 23. Simultaneously, heat wave to severe heat wave conditions are expected to grip isolated areas of west Rajasthan from May 21-23 and again between May 24-25. Other northern and central regions including Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, east Rajasthan, south Uttar Pradesh, and north Madhya Pradesh are also expected to reel under heat wave conditions between May 21-23.
Odisha is forecast to remain hot and humid on May 21 and 22, while parts of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir may witness unusually warm nights during this period.
In northeast India, widespread light to moderate rainfall is expected over the next seven days, along with thunderstorms and gusty winds. Assam and Meghalaya are set to receive isolated spells of very heavy rain on May 21.
Eastern and central states will also see active weather, with heavy rain likely over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim on May 21, Bihar on May 21 and 23, and Jharkhand on May 21 and 22. Thundersqualls reaching 50-70 kmph are also likely in parts of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
Southern states will not be spared either. Isolated heavy rain is expected over Tamil Nadu today and over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema and Telangana on May 21, 22 and 27.
Amid these unfolding weather systems, the IMD has stated that conditions are becoming increasingly favourable for the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala in the next 3-4 days. The monsoon has already advanced into more parts of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the northeastern Bay.