IMD Warns of Heavy Rain Across North, Central and East India
IMD forecasts heavy to very heavy rain across north, central and east India over the next week due to a low-pressure area, with flash-flood risk in parts of MP and UP.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall across several parts of north, central, and east India over the coming days. The forecast follows the formation of a well-marked low-pressure area over north-east Madhya Pradesh and adjoining regions.
On Wednesday, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over east Uttar Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Bihar. West Uttar Pradesh is likely to see similar conditions on September 3 and 4. Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are expected to receive heavy rain on September 3, while Vidarbha may see heavy to very heavy showers the same day.
A broader wet spell is likely from September 3 to 8, with fairly widespread to widespread rainfall predicted over east and west Madhya Pradesh. Vidarbha is expected to see similar conditions from September 3 to 6, and Chhattisgarh could experience widespread rain on September 7 and 8, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.
In the north-west, Uttarakhand is likely to see widespread rainfall through September 8, while Himachal Pradesh and west Uttar Pradesh are expected to receive widespread showers from September 3 to 5. Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi are likely to be affected on September 3 and 4.
The IMD has also flagged a low to moderate flash-flood risk over several watersheds in east Madhya Pradesh, including Jabalpur, Rewa, Satna, Sidhi, and Mandla, as well as in east Uttar Pradesh districts such as Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, and Chitrakoot. Saturated soils and low-lying areas may see surface runoff and inundation.
Eastern India will remain wet, with widespread rainfall expected over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from September 3 to 8. Bihar and Gangetic West Bengal are likely to see widespread rain on September 3 and again on September 8.
The IMD noted that in the past 24 hours, extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm was recorded at isolated places over Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal. Very heavy rainfall of 12-20 cm was observed in parts of Himachal Pradesh, east Uttar Pradesh, east Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Bihar. Isolated heavy rainfall of 7-11 cm was also recorded over west Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Nagaland.
Despite the current wet spell, India's cumulative monsoon rainfall remains 13% below normal through September 2, with the country receiving 618.5 mm against the normal 714.3 mm since June 1.