Rainfall, hailstorm in some states, heatwave in others - Check IMD's weather forecast here

IMD said that heavy rainfall, along with thunderstorms, is likely to prevail over Sikkim on 22 April; over Assam-Meghalaya from 22-24 April and over Arunachal Pradesh on 23 and 24 April. Parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha are also going to witness scattered rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds (speed 30-40 kmph) during next 5 days. Additionally, Bihar and Jharkhand will see scattered rainfall during next 24 hours, while IMD has warned of hailstorm conditions over Jharkhand and Odisha today, 22 April.

IMD has also predicted scattered rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds is very likely to occur over Kerala-Mahe, Tamil Nadu-Puducherry-Karaikal, Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during next 5 days.  

Western Odisha, scorched by the summer heat for the last few days, got its much needed respite as it received rain during the past 24 hours in some places which caused the mercury to drop by a few notches in the area on Friday. Capital Bhubaneswar in coastal area of the state on the other hand recorded the highest temperature of the season during the day, the met office said.

The IMD predicted the maximum temperature may increase by three to five degrees Celsius in most parts of northwest India during the next five days.

Delhi is bracing for another searing heatwave with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting the maximum temperature to touch the 44-degree mark next week. The mercury is likely to touch the 44-degree mark in Delhi by Thursday, IMD said.

The maximum temperatures on Friday hovered close to normal limits in most parts of Haryana and Punjab. In Haryana, Ambala recorded a high of 37 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperatures in Karnal and Hisar settled at 37.4 and 39 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, in Punjab, Patiala recorded a high of 38.5 degrees Celsius, Amritsar's maximum temperature settled at 36.5 degrees Celsius, while Ludhiana's high settled at 37.3 degrees Celsius.

The weather department had earlier said northwest India and adjoining parts of central India are likely to see more intense and frequent heatwave conditions in April.