Monsoon rain to heighten flood risk in southern India this week; North to endure heat wave

The long-awaited monsoon rain has begun across parts of southwestern India; however, flooding has already impacted several communities.

Heavy downpours lashing Mangaluru on Tuesday resulted in widespread flooding and forcing schools to be closed through Wednesday.

Rainfall totaled 334 mm (13.14 inches) in parts of the city, setting a new all-time 24-hour rainfall record. The old record was 330 mm (12.99 inches) set back in June of 1982.

Flooding and thunderstorms have claimed at least three lives in Mangaluru and Udupi, according to First Post.

While the heaviest rain has left Kerala and southern Karnataka, additional downpours into this weekend can trigger new flooding with the ground left saturated.

The monsoon has officially begun in these areas, according to the India Meteorological Department. However, downpours capable of causing flooding can still plague other parts of the country.

Thunderstorms will also rumble into this weekend elsewhere across South India, especially from the west coast to the Western Ghats, as well as parts of Andhra Pradesh, southern Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal and into northeastern India.

The afternoon and evening hours will be the most active times of the days.

Even if flooding does not ensue, residents are reminded to seek shelter as soon as thunder is heard. The risk of being struck by lightning is then present.

A thunderstorm may also rumble north of Hyderabad and into the interior of Maharashtra. This activity is expected to be more isolated than in areas to the south and east.

"In terms of the monsoon's advancement, it looks to be rather sluggish through the weekend," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said. "Advancement should resume across southwestern India early next week with the monsoon possibly reaching Mumbai between June 6 and 9."

Nicholls anticipates the monsoon's advancement in northeastern India to be slow until later next week.

"For the folks in Chennai wondering when the monsoon reaches them, it looks like an improved chance for scattered rains this weekend and early next week, but overall the pattern looks to stay drier than normal through next week," according to Nicholls.

While parts of southern and western India have heat-suppressing rainfall, northern India will continue to endure a dangerous heat wave this week.

New Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) will endure continued sweltering heat right into this weekend with no relief in sight.

Temperatures have hovered at or above 43 C (109 F) since the middle of May and will likely hold through the first half of June.

The rest of northern India has also had to endure through similar conditions in recent weeks as parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have all recorded heat wave conditions.

High temperatures at or above 43 C (109 F) are forecast across the NCR and surrounding parts of northern India each day through this weekend.

The hottest locations could have temperatures approach 49 C (120 F), increasing the risk for life-threatening heat-related illnesses.

Be sure to drink plenty of water, wear light clothing and avoid strenuous activities during the midday and afternoon hours (the hottest times of the day). Care should be taken to ensure the elderly and children are following these precautions, while ensuring animals have proper shelter.

No relief will come at night. Temperatures in the NCR will dip only to around 32 C (90 F) at night, preventing buildings without air conditioning from cooling.

While thunderstorms will be isolated across northern India, some locations from eastern Uttar Pradesh into West Bengal could get locally severe storms through this weekend.

Violent storms have already killed more than 40 people in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkland since Sunday according to India Today.

Unfortunately, little or no relief from the heat is forecast across northern India over the next two weeks. Monsoon rain will slowly advance northwest across the country into late June, bringing an end to the relentless heat.

Pakistan will also endure continued heat during this time. The heat has already claimed the lives at least 65 people in Karachi earlier this month.

Temperatures soared to 46 C (115 F) in Karachi on Wednesday. While air flowing in from the Arabian Sea will hold temperatures to more seasonable highs of near 36 C (97 F) into this weekend. Humidity, however, will create dangerously higher AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures each day.

Farther inland, residents will face continued highs in excess of 43 C (110 F) into this weekend.

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