As vast parts of India continue to reel under an intense and prolonged heatwave, fresh satellite imagery released by the India Meteorological Department has revealed a massive western disturbance advancing towards north India, raising hopes of much-needed rain and relief from scorching temperatures.
The latest thermal infrared imagery captured by the INSAT-3DS weather satellite on May 21 shows a sprawling cloud mass and cyclonic circulation spread across Afghanistan, Pakistan and adjoining northwest India, signalling increasing atmospheric instability over the region.
Also read: Himachal to witness heavy rain, hailstorm from May 22
North India remains trapped under severe heat
For the past several days, large parts of northwestern and central India have remained under severe heatwave conditions, with temperatures soaring beyond 45 degrees Celsius in several cities across Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and parts of Madhya Pradesh.
What has worsened the situation is the persistence of unusually high nighttime temperatures, offering little respite after sunset. Meteorologists warn that warm nights are especially dangerous as the human body gets very little time to cool down, significantly increasing heat stress risks.
Fresh western disturbance may trigger rain, dust storms
According to weather experts, the approaching western disturbance is likely to interact with moisture incursion from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, increasing the chances of thunderstorms, gusty winds, lightning activity and scattered rainfall across several northern states over the coming days.
The satellite imagery shows the most intense cloud activity concentrated over northern Pakistan and Jammu & Kashmir, indicating strong atmospheric instability associated with the incoming system. Additional convective cloud clusters are also visible over northeast India, suggesting active pre-monsoon thunderstorm activity in the eastern region.
Meteorologists expect rainfall activity over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh during the next few days, though the intensity and spread of rainfall remain uncertain. Isolated hailstorms and dust storms are also possible in some areas.
Temperatures likely to dip, especially at night
While the incoming weather system may not completely end the ongoing heatwave across north India, it is expected to bring a noticeable drop in temperatures, particularly by lowering the abnormally high nighttime temperatures that have persisted over recent days.
The satellite image also indicates increasing activity over the Arabian Sea and southern Bay of Bengal, where cloud clusters are gradually organising as monsoon conditions begin turning favourable.
For millions enduring sleepless and sweltering nights, the approaching western disturbance could finally bring temporary relief from one of the season’s harshest heat spells.
