Assam, Meghalaya on Orange Alert from April 9-11 As Heavy Rains and Thunderstorms Continue to Drench Northeast India

Since the previous weekend, intense rain spells have been drenching parts of Northeast India, with some locations even experiencing extremely heavy downpours around the beginning of this week. Now, similar conditions are expected to prevail at least for the next five days, with more heavy precipitation on the horizon.(TNL)

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), strong and moist southwesterly winds continue to blow in from the Bay of Bengal and onto the northeastern states.

Under their influence, fairly widespread to widespread rains, accompanied by lightning and thunderstorms, are expected across Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya over the next five days.(TNL)

In the same time frame, isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are also likely to impact Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.

Further, isolated heavy rainfall may lash Arunachal Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim from Friday to Sunday, April 8-10; and Assam-Meghalaya at least until next Tuesday, April 12. Isolated locations in the latter two states may even experience very heavy downpours between Saturday and Monday, April 9-11.(TNL)

In view of these predictions, the IMD has issued a yellow watch (‘be aware’ of the local weather situation) over the five aforementioned states and subdivisions for the next 24 hours. Thereafter, from Saturday to Monday, the advisory over Assam and Meghalaya will be upgraded to an orange alert (‘be prepared’ for rough weather).(TNL)

Amid such wet conditions, the daytime mercury levels have remained slightly above average in most parts of Northeast India. However, in the locations that have been receiving consistent rainfall over the past week — particularly in Assam and Meghalaya — the maximum temperatures have dropped below normal.

For the days to come, no significant change is expected in temperatures across the northeast, the IMD has indicated.(TNL)

Meanwhile, since the beginning of the pre-monsoon season in March, the rainfall activity over Northeast India has varied from state to state.

Between March 1 and April 7, Meghalaya (267.4 mm), Sikkim (240.3 mm) and Assam (151.5 mm) have recorded above-average precipitation as compared to their respective average figures for this time frame.(TNL)

On the other hand, Arunachal Pradesh has registered ‘normal’ rainfall at 260 mm, whereas Manipur (66.1 mm), Tripura (36.1 mm), Nagaland (20.9 mm) and Manipur (14.1 mm) have all notched below-average rainfall figures.