Northwest to experience intense heatwave

The northwestern region of India – including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and parts of Madhya Pradesh -- will experience heatwave conditions from April 16 to 18, according to the latest forecast of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Meanwhile, an intense western disturbance is likely to affect Western Himalayan Region from April 16 to 20, resulting in isolated heavy rainfall over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Odisha, Bihar, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya will also receive rainfall till April 17.

“A gradual rise in maximum temperatures by 2°C-4°C is expected in North-West India during the next four days till April 18. The temperature will then gradually fall by 2°C-4°C in the subsequent three days,” the IMD said.

The weather department said scattered to fairly widespread moderate rainfall -- along with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds -- is likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema, Telangana, Interior Karnataka, as well as in the northeastern states till April 18.

A rise in maximum temperatures by 2°C-3°C is also likely in interior Maharashtra till April 18 and Gujarat till April 17.