IMD Forecasts Widespread Rain Across India Through 19 September
The IMD expects fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with thunderstorms across most of India until 19 September, even as the seasonal monsoon deficit remains at 15%.
Most of India is set for a wet week, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting fairly widespread to widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning across the northwest, central, eastern, northeastern and western regions through 19 September.
In the northwest, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad are likely to see fairly widespread to widespread rain with thunderstorms during 15-17 September. Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, along with Punjab, may experience similar conditions on 16-17 September, while the rest of the region is expected to get isolated to scattered showers with thunder and lightning.
Central India is also bracing for multiple spells. West Madhya Pradesh may receive fairly widespread to widespread rainfall on 14 September, Vidarbha during 14-15 September and Chhattisgarh during 14-16 September. Isolated to scattered rain is likely to continue in these areas until 19 September.
Over the east, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are expected to get fairly widespread to widespread rainfall during 16-19 September, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim throughout 14-19 September. Gangetic West Bengal may see widespread rain during 16-19 September, Bihar on 16-17 September and Odisha on 14 September.
The northeast will remain wet, with fairly widespread to widespread rainfall forecast over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during 14-17 September. The rain is expected to turn more isolated and scattered on 18-19 September, with thunderstorms and lightning likely over parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and Meghalaya.
In the west, Gujarat, Konkan and Goa, and Saurashtra and Kutch are likely to receive fairly widespread to widespread rainfall during 14-15 September, becoming isolated to scattered thereafter until 19 September. Thunderstorms and lightning may affect parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat in the initial days.
Peninsular India will see intermittent rain. Kerala and Mahe are likely to get fairly widespread to widespread rainfall during 14-15 September, while Lakshadweep is expected to remain wet through 14-19 September. Isolated to scattered rainfall is likely over Rayalaseema, South Interior Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal until 19 September.
The forecast comes amid a deficient southwest monsoon. Cumulative rainfall across the country stood at 662.3 mm during 1 June-12 September against a normal of 778.6 mm, a shortfall of 15%.
In the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Sunday, exceptionally heavy rainfall of 30 cm or more was recorded over the Gujarat region. Very heavy rainfall of 12-20 cm was reported in Vidarbha, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Assam, Konkan and Telangana. Heavy rainfall of 7-11 cm was recorded over West Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Madhya Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.