There is going to be a lull in intense western disturbance activity across North-west India and associated weather, even as a weak system made a call over Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining North Pakistan on Monday.
The next westerly system of some significance may not sail in until early next week, according to global model outlook.
SOUTHERLY RAINS
But there are indications that activity building in the Bay of Bengal around that time might trigger rains over the southern peninsula — South-east Tamil Nadu coast and adjoining Kerala.
Maximum temperatures have already started rising over some parts of North-west India by the order of 2-3 degrees Celsius during the past 24 hours ending Monday morning, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) update said.
Cloudless skies helped the sun reach out to the surface in the North-west just emerging from a winter-induced slumber.
LAND HEATING
The daytime maxima were above normal by 3-4 degrees Celsius over parts of East and North-east India, and by 2-3 degrees Celsius over Andhra Pradesh, West and Central India.
Parts of Maharashtra are heating up the fastest, with Bhira recording the country's highest maximum of 41 degrees Celsius during the past 24 hours.
Satellite imagery early on Monday morning showed the presence of convective (rain-bearing) clouds over parts of Jammu and Kashmir, South-east Arabian Sea, South Bay of Bengal and South Andaman Sea.
An easterly wave has been affecting the southern islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and, by all indications, could be heading straight towards Sri Lanka.
ISOLATED RAIN
Short-term forecasts by the IMD said isolated rain or snowfall would occur over the western Himalayan region.
Scattered rain or thundershowers would occur over Andaman and Nicobar Islands until Tuesday.
It would be isolated over Arunachal Pradesh until Tuesday, and increase thereafter with the prevailing feeble westerly system docking over the region on its eastward-bound journey out of the country.
MERCURY TRENDS
The IMD expected maximum and minimum temperatures to rise slightly over the plains of North-west India during the next 2-3 days.
Over Central India, the maxima would rise slightly, while the minima could fall by 2-3 degrees Celsius over Central and East India during the same period.
Fairly widespread rain or thundershowers have been forecast over Andaman and Nicobar Islands and scattered over parts of the North-eastern States.