Pre-monsoon activity to persist across Chhattisgarh; Raipur likely to remain hot and humid

Raipur: Pre-monsoon activity is expected to keep weather conditions unsettled across Chhattisgarh over the next five days, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and spells of light to moderate rain at isolated places across the state.While scattered showers are likely in several districts, residents of Raipur may have to wait longer for substantial relief from the heat. The city is expected to remain hot and humid, with the IMD forecasting a maximum temperature of around 42 degrees Celsius.According to the weather department, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph are likely at isolated locations over the next 24 hours. Similar weather activity, though with slightly lower wind speeds of 40-50 kmph, is expected to continue during the subsequent two days.Meteorologists said moisture incursion and multiple weather systems, including cyclonic circulations over northeast Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, along with a trough extending across Chhattisgarh to Telangana, are driving the current pre-monsoon conditions.The weather shift was visible on Friday, when parts of the state received rainfall. IMD data showed light to moderate rain at isolated places, with Chandrapur in Sakti district recording the highest rainfall of two cm, while Deobhog in Gariyaband, Bastar and Nawagarh in Janjgir-Champa district received one cm each.Bilaspur on Saturday recorded the highest maximum temperature at 41.6 degrees Celsius, while Pendra Road was the coolest at 23.2 degrees Celsius. Raipur recorded a maximum temperature of 41 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 30.7 degrees Celsius, which was 2.5 degrees above normal.The IMD said thunderstorm activity is likely to continue at isolated places across Chhattisgarh during the next five days, with increased activity expected over south Chhattisgarh. However, maximum temperatures are not expected to witness any major change during this period.The department has also indicated that conditions are becoming favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon into parts of Chhattisgarh over the next four to five days, although widespread monsoon conditions are yet to set in across the state.For Raipur, the forecast remains partly cloudy skies with the possibility of thunderstorms, dust storms or brief spells of rain. High humidity levels, however, are expected to keep discomfort levels elevated despite intermittent cloud cover.