Monsoon 2024 to Bring Relief from Scorching Heat in India
As most of India continues to endure extreme heat, the onset of the 2024 Monsoon in Kerala on May 31, as predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), promises much-needed respite. The monsoon has already made its presence felt in several areas, including the South Arabian Sea, Maldives, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Andaman Sea.
According to IMD, conditions are favorable for the monsoon’s further advance into the southern Bay of Bengal, the remaining parts of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andaman Sea, and some parts of the east-central region over the next two days.
North India Faces Severe Heatwave
While the monsoon brings relief to southern India, North India remains on high alert for a severe heatwave. Maximum temperatures have soared above 45 degrees Celsius in states like Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. The IMD expects the heatwave conditions to persist in these regions until May 25. Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, and parts of Madhya Pradesh will also experience heatwave conditions until May 25, while Maharashtra is expected to face similar conditions until May 24.
To forecast the onset of the monsoon, the IMD considers various indicators, including minimum temperatures in northwest India, peak pre-monsoon rainfall over the south Peninsula, outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) over the South China Sea, lower tropospheric zonal wind over the equatorial southeast Indian Ocean, OLR over the Southwest Pacific Ocean, and upper tropospheric zonal wind over the equatorial northeast Indian Ocean.
