Respite in sight as Met predicts thundershowers from June 1

PATNA: Mercury will continue to remain above 40 degrees C at Patna and most other places in Bihar at least till June 3, even as the weathermen have predicted pre-monsoon thundershowers along with gusty winds from June 1 to 3. The showers would occur at isolated places in north Bihar only.
A daily weather bulletin issued by India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday stated that heatwave conditions would prevail at isolated places in the state on Friday.
As per meteorology, heatwave is defined as a condition when the normal temperature is 40 degrees C and above and the actual temperature continues to be 4.5 notches above normal for two consecutive days.
Heatwave conditions were declared in Patna on Wednesday but the maximum temperature in the state capital stood at 41.2 degrees C, three notches above normal.
Gaya remained the hottest place in the state on Thursday with a maximum temperature of 43.6 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal. Bhagalpur and Purnia in northeast Bihar remained a tad cooler with maximum temperatures of 37.8 and 36 degrees C, respectively.
An evening bulletin issued by India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday stated that thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with gusty winds (30-40kmph) are expected in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and several other states from June 1 to 3. The intensity of showers is likely to be higher on June 1 and 2.
A daily weather bulletin issued by Patna Meteorological Centre stated that moderate to light rainfall occurred at one or two places over north-central, northeast and southeast parts of Bihar during past 24 hours.
Weathermen attributed the pre-monsoon showers in the state to a cyclonic circulation over east Uttar Pradesh. “An east-west trough is stretching from the cyclonic circulation in east UP to Manipur, which has created conditions conducive for thundershowers along with gusty winds, particularly in north Bihar,” said an official at Patna Meteorological Centre.
Meanwhile, southwest monsoon is also expected to make its onset in the country over the next few days. The all-India weather bulletin issued by IMD on Thursday stated that the southwest monsoon has further advanced into southernmost parts of Maldives, some more parts of southwest and southeast Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of Andaman sea and Andaman Islands and some parts of east-central Bay of Bengal. Southwest monsoon normally enters Bihar around June 10-12 through the northeastern districts of Purnia and Katihar.