New Delhi, Nov 5: South India is in for a wet Diwali week. In its latest forecast bulletin issued on Thursday, November 5, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh through the week until November 11, and over Kerala and Mahe from November 5 to 8, with fairly widespread to widespread rainfall expected over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on November 7 and 8.

Source: Daily Jagran, reporting the IMD bulletin

Thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds

The IMD said isolated thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, are likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal from November 5 to 9, and over Telangana on November 5. Isolated to scattered rainfall is also likely over coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe, Lakshadweep, Rayalaseema and south interior Karnataka through the week, with strong surface winds over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.

The wet spell is being driven by the remnants of Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu, which crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast earlier this week. The low-pressure area over east Telangana and adjoining coastal Andhra Pradesh has weakened, but its cyclonic circulation continues to feed moisture into the peninsula and keep the rain going, The CSR Journal reported, citing the IMD forecast.

Source: The CSR Journal

Rain for the east and northeast; the north stays dry

In the east, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are likely to see fairly widespread rainfall from November 8 to 11 with isolated heavy showers, while Odisha may see thunderstorms and gusty winds on November 5 and 6, and Gangetic West Bengal and Jharkhand scattered showers from November 9 to 11. Rain activity in the northeast is expected to pick up from November 8, with isolated heavy rainfall likely over Arunachal Pradesh on November 9-10 and over Assam, Meghalaya and the remaining northeastern states from November 9 to 11. A fresh western disturbance is expected to affect the western Himalayan region from around November 10.

Northern India, by contrast, is forecast to remain dry on November 6, including Delhi, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, with no rain expected over the northwest in the coming days and maximum temperatures already running more than 5 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average in parts of Uttar Pradesh. West and central India are also expected to see no significant weather through the week. Residents in the southern and eastern states have been advised to follow IMD and district-level updates, particularly during thunderstorms and heavy-rain spells.