IMD forecasts heatwaves and hailstorms over the next two days in many states

Forecast: Heatwave conditions are expected on Saturday throughout a number of states, including the coastal parts of Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Gangetic West Bengal, Rayalaseema, Bihar, Telangana, Jharkhand, north interior Karnataka, Odisha, and Vidarbha, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

In addition to the warmth, the meteorological service has issued a warning for hailstorms on April 7 and 8 for Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, East Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, and Chhattisgarh.

The weatherman has also indicated which areas are seeing temperatures above average.

The India Meteorological Department said that as the nation gets ready for the massive seven-phase general elections that begin on April 19, India is expected to face high heat from April to June, with the greatest effects being felt in the central and western peninsular regions.

Speaking at a press conference, Union Minister for Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju said that extreme weather is predicted for India over the next two and a half months, coinciding with general elections when a billion or more people are expected to cast ballots.

It’s going to be very difficult for each of us. India must definitely prepare ahead of time since we are the world’s most populated nation and experience harsh weather,” he said.

According to him, there’s a higher chance of heat wave-related health problems for poll workers and voters with more exposure.

According to the head of the IMD, most of the nation is anticipated to have above-normal maximum temperatures between April and June, with a significant likelihood across the central and western peninsulas of India.

For the majority of the plains, heatwave days that are above average are probably in store from April to June. In contrast to the typical four to eight days, ten to twenty days of heat waves are predicted in various sections of the nation, he added.

The states most likely to be affected by heat waves include Gujarat, central Maharashtra, north Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, north Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh, according to Mohapatra.

The extreme heat may put a burden on electricity systems, affect crops planted for the winter, and cause water shortages in certain areas of India.