India: Monsoon reaches the south while dangerous heat wave continues in the north

While temperatures will approach all-time records across the National Capital Region early this week, the summer monsoon has officially reached southern India.

On Saturday, the India Meteorological Department declared that the summer monsoon has officially moved into southern India.

The start of the monsoon this year is about a week later than normal, with 1 June being when the monsoon typically reaches southern India.

Monsoon rainfall will begin heavily along the southwestern coast of India as a tropical depression strengthens along the coast. Flash flooding will be possible in western Karnataka and Kerala.

AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring the potential for this depression to become a tropical cyclone as it drifts to the northwest. While remaining offshore this week, it is expected to spread showers and thunderstorms into coastal portions of Maharashtra and Gujarat around the middle of the week.

Boaters along the west coast of India should remain alert for building seas as this low strengthens.

The monsoon is still well over a week away from moving into northern India where a deadly heat wave continues.

Thursday, 30 May, was the hottest day of 2019 in New Delhi as the temperature soared to 46.8 C (116 F) at the capital city’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. Temperatures remained dangerously high in New Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) in recent days with daily high temperatures of 42-46 C (108-115 F).

The heat is expected to peak once again early this week as temperatures climb to near-record highs in New Delhi on Monday.

The highest temperature ever reported in the city at Safdarjung Airport is 47.2 C (117 F), while the record at the nearby international airport sits at 48.4 C (119.1 F).

While most areas will remain dry and hot, any thunderstorms that do form across northern India in the coming days will be capable of producing damaging winds, hail and dust storms.

Deadly dust storms swept across Uttar Pradesh Thursday night, resulting in at least 26 deaths and injuring more than 50 others.

The storms also destroyed homes, knocked down trees and caused power outages, according to Times of India.

Widespread high temperatures of 42-47 C (108-116 F) will persist across northern India and Pakistan through the beginning of the week. Temperatures can reach 50 C (122 F) in the hottest locations.

The city of Churu endured such heat from 1 June to 3 June as temperatures reached or exceeded 49 C (120 F) each day. Similar conditions may be repeated in the city on Monday.

Other locations that will endure daily dangerous heat include Hyderabad, Nagpur, Patna, Indore and Lucknow.

Farther west, the temperature rose to a blistering high of 51.1 C (124 F) in Jacobabad, Pakistan, last weekend.

More dangerous heat is expected in Jacobabad and surrounding locations into the new week as temperatures may climb back above 50 C (122 F).

Actual temperatures will not be as extreme in Karachi, with daily high temperatures of 36-39 C (97-102 F) expected on most days this week. Sweltering humidity, however, will create dangerously higher AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures.

Unfortunately, this heat is not expected to break any time soon, as dry weather prevails and monsoon rainfall remains far away for northern India and Pakistan.

AccuWeather meteorologists are predicting a near-normal monsoon for the country as a whole; however, northwestern India and Pakistan are forecast to endure a drier-than-normal season, with the arrival of rainfall delayed a week or more.

Monsoon rainfall typically spreads over northwestern India, including the NCR, during mid- to late June.

Residents are reminded to take the necessary precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses as the hot weather may hold firm through the entire month of June.

Wear light clothing, drink plenty of water and avoid strenuous activities during the midday and afternoon hours, which are the hottest times of the day. Worsening air quality can add to health concerns.

India endures lengthy heat waves each year prior to the arrival of monsoon rainfall. More than 6,000 heat-related deaths have been reported in India since 2010, according to the Times of India.
Source: AccuWeather