IMD predicts heat waves for eastern India, rainfall for Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan in May

Heat waves can hit parts of eastern India like Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha as these places are expected to experience above-normal temperatures in May, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its monthly weather outlook for May. The outlook further says that parts of northwest and west-central India are expected to experience warmer nights and below-normal temperatures during the day.

The weather office said that in May, normal to above-normal rainfall was expected in the northwest and west central parts of the country, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and parts of western Uttar Pradesh.

Large swathes of the northeastern region, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and south Karnataka are expected to witness below-normal rains.

According to the weather office, the average rainfall for the country in May is 91-109 per cent of the Long Period Average of 61.4 mm.

"Above-normal heat wave days are expected over most parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, east Uttar Pradesh, coastal Andhra Pradesh and some parts of North Chhattisgarh, east Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and coastal Gujarat during May," Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the Director General of IMD said in New Delhi.

Mohapatra informed that the neutral El Nino conditions prevalent over the equatorial Pacific region were expected to continue through May with a majority of weather models indicating the region beginning to warm up during the monsoon season.

El Nino conditions, or warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, are said to have an impact on monsoon rains in India.

However, other factors such as the sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean (known as the Indian Ocean Dipole) also are known to influence weather in India.

Mohapatra said neutral IOD conditions were prevailing over the Indian Ocean, which were likely to turn positive during the upcoming season.

He said positive Indian Ocean Dipole conditions are known to favour the Indian monsoon and help temper the impact of El Nino.

Earlier this month, the IMD had forecast a normal monsoon season with 96 per cent rainfall of the Long Period Average of 87 cm rainfall.

The weather office is expected to update its forecast towards the end of May.

(With inputs from PTI)