Monsoon rain, storms to spread toward Mumbai while high heat persists in parts of India

Heavy rain is expected to continue to inundate much of India as thunderstorm activity makes a northwestward push towards the National Capital Region.

Downpours have impacted Mangaluru each day since June 4, with 115 mm (4.54 inches) falling during a 24-hour period last week.

However, "the spread of the monsoon rains has been a little slower than average across areas of India from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and western West Bengal," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk.

Cities such as Indore and Nagpur, which have been largely dry for the past couple of weeks, will have a higher chance of being impacted by thunderstorm activity early this week.

While Mumbai has received only a few days of heavy rainfall in recent weeks, more consistently wet weather is expected to spread over the area.

According to Houk, this uptick in wet weather will help to keep high temperatures in check and will also limit poor air quality conditions.

Locations that have been heavily affected by flooding rainfall can expect little change, with the heaviest downpours anticipated to remain focused on areas from Goa southward through Kochi.

Flooding has already resulted in more than two dozen deaths across northeastern India and Bangladesh during the past couple of weeks, according to Reuters.

More than 1 million people have been displaced by the flooding across the region. The hardest-hit area has been Assam state, where 17 fatalities have occurred, according to The Times of India. Additional downpours will cause additional flooding and displacements through the coming week.

Flooding will continue to be a concern, along with mudslides, road washouts and other travel disruptions that could cut off some communities. Thunderstorms that produce frequent lightning will also create a danger to anyone outdoors.

High heat is expected to remain entrenched over areas north of this monsoonal rainfall, including the NCR region.

"Unfortunately, the monsoon change will hold off in New Delhi through at least early in the week, where temperatures will top out over 38 C (100 F)," Houk said. As a result, poor air quality and frequent dust storms will continue to threaten residents' health and disrupt travel.

Lower temperatures will move into the NCR during the second half of the week as the chance for rain increases.

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