IMD predicts another severe heatwave spell in THESE states; Check full forecast here

New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said severe heatwave conditions in isolated pockets are likely over Rajasthan during April 17-19 and Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi on April 17-18.

Under the influence of strong southwesterly winds from Bay of Bengal to northeastern states at lower tropospheric levels, fairly widespread or widespread rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm or lightning very likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during next five days.

The India Meteorological Department on Saturday said that Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 22 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the season. IMD informed that the national capital will witness mainly clear skies through the day with the maximum temperature likely to touch 40 degrees Celsius.

Heatwave conditions likely till April 19

Heatwave conditions in isolated pockets is very likely over the same areas till April 19; over Himachal Pradesh till April 18; over Jammu division during April 16-18; over Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh during April 17-19 and over Bihar and Saurashtra-Kutch in Gujarat on Saturday.

The northwest (NW) India region that got respite from severe to very severe heatwave till last week due to western disturbance (WD) may continue to get similar respite -- that of lowering of maximum temperatures by 1-2 degrees Celsius compared to 42-43 degrees Celsius earlier -- after April 19 as the IMD on Friday has predicted a fresh WD is likely to affect NW India from that day.

IMD predicts rainfall in these states

Heavy rainfall and thundershowers continued at a few places over Assam-Meghalaya with Haflong in Assam receiving 190 mm and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya 120 mm rainfall, predicted IMD.

Rainfall and/or thundershowers continued at isolated places over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland-Manipur-Mizoram-Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, coastal Karnataka and Odisha, it added.IMD has predicted that India will witness normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season from June 5 to September 30 this year. "There'll be a normal monsoon this year in India as across the country there'll be 99% of rainfall," Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, IMD said.