GUWAHATI: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted further rainfall for Guwahati and parts of Assam till May 7, while large parts of India are witnessing severe heatwave conditions with maximum temperatures exceeding 44°C in several cities.
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On Thursday, May 1, Guwahati was relaxing under relatively cool and cloudy conditions, with occasional rainfall providing relief. Maximum temperatures have been recorded around 31°C in the city, while day temperatures across Assam remain appreciably below normal.
Light to moderate rainfall occurred in several districts over the past 24 hours, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds up to 50–60 km/h, in contrast to the rest of the country.
A day earlier, the IMD noted that regions such as Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Jharsuguda, and Gaya reported temperatures ranging between 44.2°C and 44.8°C. Delhi Ridge also experienced intense heat, with the mercury touching 43.3°C. Orange and yellow alerts have been issued across multiple states as heatwave conditions intensified.
Notably, the department had earlier predicted that May would witness above-normal heatwave days across northwest, central, and eastern India. States including Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh are expected to face more frequent heatwaves this month. The weather agency also forecasted higher-than-usual maximum temperatures across most parts of the country, excluding some southern and eastern regions.
April had already set concerning trends, with the country experiencing its seventh-highest mean April temperature since 1901. Western India was particularly affected, with Rajasthan and Gujarat recording 6 to 11 heatwave days—well above the normal average of 2 to 3. Vidarbha and East Madhya Pradesh reported 4 to 6 such days, indicating a sharp rise in extreme heat incidents.
Despite the ongoing heatwave across much of India, residents of Assam, including Guwahati, have been expected to continue experiencing moderate weather through the first week of May.