Heatwave update: North India to cool down as rain hits multiple states

North India, including the national capital Delhi, has been reeling under an unseasonably scorching March, with temperatures soaring. However, respite is finally in sight. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the heat havoc gripping North West and Central India is set to ease over the next two days, with maximum temperatures expected to drop by 2 to 5 degrees Celsius. This welcome relief comes as a boon to states battling the early summer surge, particularly Delhi.
The weather shift follows a turbulent 24 hours that saw rain and thunderstorms lash parts of Jammu Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. Reports also confirm hail in Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. The IMD has forecast that this dynamic pattern will continue, with strong winds clocking speeds of 40 kilometers per hour expected to sweep North West India on March 28 and 29. Meanwhile, a warning for thunderstorms, rain, and lightning has been issued for Arunachal Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim on both days, signaling a wet spell in the Northeast.
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South India, too, is bracing for a bout of wet weather. The IMD has issued an alert for rain and thunderstorms across Central Maharashtra, Konkan, and Goa from March 29 to April 1, with Marathwada joining the list on April 1. Further south, Kerala, Mahe, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and South Interior Karnataka are expected to experience showers on March 28, 31, and April 1.
Temperature trends across the country paint a varied picture. In North West India, including Delhi, the maximum temperature is projected to plummet by up to 5°C within 48 hours, bringing much-needed relief. Central India will also see a modest decline of 2-3°C in maximum temperatures. However, East India faces a different fate, with temperatures set to rise by 2-3°C, and a heatwave alert issued for Odisha until March 30. Maharashtra is expected to remain stable for the next three days before cooling by 2-3°C, while Gujarat braces for a 2-3°C increase over the next five days.
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For Delhiites and residents of North West India, the cooling trend and gusty winds signal an end to the oppressive heat, while southern states prepare for a rainy reprieve. In contrast, eastern states like Odisha must endure a few more days of sweltering conditions.