Heat wave to stay away for another week

As a sultry April draws to a close with abatement of the heat wave, relief will continue in the first week of May with thundershowers expected across most parts of the country, except Western India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. From the second week of May, the temperatures are expected to gradually rise to above normal and will also usher in heat wave conditions across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

The Northeastern region, meanwhile, is going to receive widespread and heavy rainfall in the coming days.

A Western Disturbance weather system, as an upper air cyclonic circulation over Jammu and Kashmir and another one approaching, will trigger showers in the hill states and the Northwest. Meanwhile, an upper air cyclonic circulation over Bihar and Uttar Pradesh will affect the Gangetic plains, with thundershowers expected in that region.

"As a result of the thunderstorms, day temperatures are expected to be at normal and below normal levels in the first week of May. Even the minimum temperatures will be below normal in several parts of the country," a senior IMD official said.

"Maximum temperatures very likely to be normal or below normal over the northwest and adjoining central India & northeastern states till May 4, 2017. From 5th onward till May 18, maximum temperatures are likely to be above normal over most parts of the country," the IMD said. It added, "A heatwave is unlikely over remaining parts of the country during first week."