Severe rainfall alert for Assam, Arunachal, and Meghalaya from April 20 to 22

The northeastern sister states' rainfall statistics have been woefully deficient, even though the majority of the country has seen excessive rainfall this month. However, the area could have some heavy rains over the weekend, which could contribute to improving the figures.

The northeastern area has become the comfy home of atmospheric instability, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). And in the upcoming days, it is predicted that this system will bring lingering rains (and maybe snow at higher altitudes) along with localised thunderstorms.

More specifically, heavy rains (64.5 mm-115.5 mm) will lash Arunachal Pradesh between Thursday and Saturday (April 20-22) and Assam and Meghalaya on Friday and Saturday (April 21-22)", according to a report on The Weather Channel on April 20.

Further, scattered to fairly widespread showers of light to moderate intensity with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds are all very likely over Northeast India during the next five days (April 20-24).

Other Northeastern states, including Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, will be in for isolated showers on Thursday and widespread rains and thunderstorms on Friday, The Weather Channel India’s met team has predicted.

In view of these forecasts, a yellow watch has been issued over the entirety of Northeast India for the rest of this week, so as to urge the locals to ‘be updated’ about the inclement weather.

The precipitation activity might safeguard the region from the clutches of heatwave conditions that currently plague the East Indian states. But at the same time, any notable dip in mercury is also unlikely, with no major changes expected in the regional temperatures for the next five days.

What these rains will change are the rainfall stats for the Northeast. Between April 1 and 19, Arunachal Pradesh recorded only 57.8 mm of rainfall — marking a ‘large deficit’ of 69% as compared to its long-term average for this time frame. In the same duration, Assam and Meghalaya saw 51.4 mm and N.M.M.T recorded 42.4 mm, registering deficits of 51% and 47%, respectively.