The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Thursday that the heatwave gripping the country is expected to ease, except for West Rajasthan and Kerala. IMD scientist Soma Sen stated that while a heatwave alert remains for West Rajasthan and Kerala, the rest of the country will experience relief from the scorching temperatures. Sen also highlighted increased thunderstorm activity across the country due to strong moisture flow from the Bay of Bengal.

Thunderstorm and heavy rain warnings were issued for hilly states and the northeast, with the possibility of strong lightning. Sen mentioned areas like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, and Meghalaya as areas where cloud-to-ground lightning is likely.

Additionally, the IMD tweeted on Thursday about the likelihood of strong winds and hailstorms in parts of Madhya Pradesh on Friday. In Delhi, rain is forecasted for the week ahead, offering relief from the scorching temperatures that soared to 42 degrees Celsius earlier in the week.