Egypt prepares for August heatwave: Temperatures predicted to rise to 47°C

The monsoon has reactivated in Rajasthan. On Friday, rains fell in several districts, including Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Kotaputli-Bahror, with strong winds observed in Bikaner. Over the last 24 hours, light to moderate rainfall was recorded in eastern Rajasthan. The highest amount of precipitation, 69 mm, was registered in Kushalgarh Banswara, which is classified as heavy rain.

Light rains accompanied by thunder and gusty winds also occurred in the western part of the state. Meanwhile, the highest temperature in the state was recorded in Jaisalmer at 41.5 degrees Celsius, and the lowest was in Sirohi at 22 degrees Celsius.

According to the meteorological department, a low-pressure area formed over Eastern India has shifted west and reached the southern districts of Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha. There is a possibility that it will weaken within the next 24 hours and turn into a low-pressure area with moderate indicators. Consequently, from July 31 to August 2, moderate to heavy rains are expected in some districts of Udaipur and Jodhpur, while light to moderate precipitation is forecasted for the districts of Jaipur, Kota, Ajmer, and Bikaner.

The meteorological department issued an orange alert for five districts and a yellow alert for the rest. Scientists suggest that starting August 3, the monsoon trough will begin shifting northward, after which rainfall activity is likely to move to the northwestern and northeastern parts of Rajasthan. Nevertheless, rains are expected to continue in the state from August 5 to August 6.

Meanwhile, NDRF commander Surendra Singh reported that the Indian Meteorological Department issued a 'red alert' for Vadodara and surrounding areas of Gujarat on July 31 and August 1. Due to this, three teams previously deployed in various parts of Gujarat have been recalled to headquarters. Starting July 22, they have been conducting rescue operations across Gujarat.

According to new forecasts from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the amount of rainfall in India in August 2026 is expected to be below normal. IMD predicts that the average rainfall across the country may be less than 94% of the normal amount, whereas 254.9 millimeters of rain usually fall in August.

The main reason cited for the decrease in rainfall is the presence of the El Niño phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean, which is forecast to persist until August and intensify in September. This forecast came after July, when the influence of El Niño was partially mitigated by the formation of several low-pressure systems and monsoon depressions, which led to good rainfall in several regions.

Despite the monsoon showing better results in July, the situation may change in August. Although a deficit of rainfall is expected in most regions of the country, some areas, including the northwestern, northeastern, east-central, and eastern parts of India, may receive normal or even more rainfall.

The normal amount of rainfall in August is 254.9 millimeters. The IMD forecast also indicates that the total rainfall in August and September may be below normal, as 422.8 millimeters usually fall in these two months. IMD believes that the total rainfall could drop below 94% of the normal amount.

However, this deficit will not be evenly distributed across the country. Some parts of South and Central India, northern areas of Northwest India, as well as eastern and northeastern regions may receive normal or above-normal rainfall, meaning that even with an overall decrease in the average figure, individual territories may experience favorable precipitation.

El Niño in the Pacific Ocean may remain at a moderate level until August, with a forecast of intensification in September. Some climate models suggest that El Niño could continue until early 2027, and this phenomenon may affect the Indian monsoon, increasing the probability of reduced rainfall. Therefore, special attention will be paid to the state of El Niño in August and September.

Nevertheless, there is positive news related to the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). Many meteorological models indicate the probability of a positive IOD forming by September. A positive IOD is capable of promoting increased rainfall in India and partially compensating for the impact of El Niño. However, the IMD's own weather model currently forecasts a neutral IOD state, so the influence of the IOD remains uncertain.

Thus, rainfall in August and September will be critical, as water shortage can affect agriculture, reservoir levels, and water availability. While improvement is possible in some areas due to heavy rainfall, the current IMD forecast indicates that a decline in rainfall is expected across the country during the latter half of the monsoon. In the coming weeks, it will become clear how the monsoon will develop depending on the state of El Niño and IOD.

After only three cities were under the maximum alert level due to high health risks on Thursday, this number increased to 11 today as eight more cities were placed in the 'red' zone. Among these cities are Turin (in the north), Florence (in the center), and the capital Rome (in the center), and this number is expected to rise over the weekend.

On Saturday, August 1st, the number of cities under red warning will reach 19, to which settlements such as Milan, Bologna, Venice (in the north), Naples (in the south), and Cagliari (Sardinia, in the south) will be added. The maximum number—23 cities—is expected on Sunday, a day predicted to be the peak of this heatwave, when temperatures in some places will reach 41 degrees Celsius. Genoa, Trieste (in the north), Catania, and Palermo (Sicily) will also join this list.

When a 'red' alert status is declared, the Ministry of Health advises all residents to avoid being outdoors between 11:00 and 18:00, drink plenty of water, stay in the coolest parts of the house, and avoid intense physical activity outside during the hottest hours.

This year's heatwaves have been linked to numerous deaths, and along with the wildfires and droughts they cause, they are also creating serious problems for businesses, especially agriculture. In this regard, the Piedmont region (in the north, with Turin as its capital) has decided to accelerate the harvest.