Southwest Monsoon Hits Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal; IMD Warns of Heavy Rainfall

New Delhi (IANS): The Southwest monsoon made significant progress on Monday, advancing into Ranchi and other parts of Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The monsoon has also covered the remaining parts of Andhra Pradesh and the west-central Bay of Bengal, alongside new areas of Telangana and Odisha. The northern limit of the monsoon currently cuts through Hyderabad, Koraput, Ranchi, Jamui, and Muzaffarpur.

The IMD confirmed that atmospheric conditions remain highly favourable for the monsoon to push further into Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and the remaining pockets of Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, and Karnataka over the next four to five days.

Heavy Rain Brings Relief; Northeast Braced for Downpours

The advancement brought widespread relief from summer heat. Over the last 24 hours, Assam recorded heavy to very heavy rainfall ranging between 12 cm and 20 cm. Meanwhile, steady heavy rainfall (7 cm to 11 cm) lashed Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, coastal Karnataka, coastal Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Tamil Nadu. Severe thunderstorms with squally winds clocking speeds of 60 km/h to 100 km/h also hit Odisha, Telangana, east Rajasthan, and west Madhya Pradesh.

The IMD has issued a week-long warning for the Northeast and eastern India:

• Severe Deluges: Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall will target sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya over the next six to seven days.
• Widespread Rains: Fairly widespread rainfall is expected across the Northeast, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Kerala.
• Isolated Spells: Pockets of Bihar, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu will continue to see isolated heavy downpours.

Conflicting Weather Systems: Rain vs. Heat Waves

Multiple active weather systems are dictating India’s current climate patterns. A seasonal trough stretches from Punjab to Bihar, while active cyclonic circulations hang over south-central Maharashtra and south Punjab. Additionally, a western disturbance over north Pakistan will move into northwest India by June 18, bringing rain and potential hailstorms to the Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh region.

In sharp contrast to the rain, extreme heat persists in parts of central and western India:

• Heat Waves: Isolated pockets of Telangana (June 15–16) and Vidarbha (June 15–17) will face severe heat wave conditions.
• Highest Temperature: Phalodi in Rajasthan clocked the nation’s highest maximum temperature on Monday at 42.8 °C.
• Hot and Humid: Sticky, oppressive weather will prevail across Odisha, Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, and Marathwada.

Delhi-NCR and Safety Advisories

The capital region, Delhi-NCR, experienced a break from the heat on Monday, with thunderstorms, gusty winds reaching up to 70 km/h, and light rain keeping maximum temperatures around 35 °C to 37 °C. Partly cloudy skies and strong winds will continue over the next few days.

The weather bureau has issued strict safety directives for the public and key sectors:

• Fishermen: Advised strictly against venturing into vulnerable zones of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal until June 20.
• Farmers: Urged to clear drainage channels in fields and secure standing crops against heavy waterlogging and strong winds.
• General Public: Advised to take precautions against lightning hazards during thunderstorms, while residents in heat-wave zones should stay hydrated and limit direct sun exposure.