New Delhi: Rainfall activity is likely to remain widespread across several parts of India through 21 September, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) also forecasting thunderstorms and lightning in many regions. North-west, central, eastern and western parts of the country are expected to witness spells of fairly widespread to widespread rainfall during the week.
In the north-west, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, is likely over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab on 16-17 September. Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad are expected to experience similar weather on 17 September. Other parts of northwest India are likely to see isolated to scattered rainfall, with thunderstorms and lightning.
Rainfall activity is also expected to remain significant in central India. West Madhya Pradesh is likely to get fairly widespread to widespread rainfall during 17-19 September, while east Madhya Pradesh is expected to see similar conditions during 16-17 September. Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh are likely to experience fairly widespread to widespread rainfall during 20-21 September and 19-21 September, respectively.
The eastern region is likely to remain wet through much of the period. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are forecast to receive fairly widespread to widespread rainfall throughout 16-21 September. Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are likely to see widespread rainfall during 16-20 September, while Gangetic West Bengal is expected to get similar rains during 16-20 September. Odisha could get widespread rains during 19-21 September.
Bihar and Jharkhand are likely to receive isolated to scattered rainfall during 16-21 September, while Odisha is expected to see similar activity during 16-18 September, the IMD said.
In the north-east, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh during 16-17 September and over Assam and Meghalaya on 16 September. Isolated to scattered rainfall is forecast over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya and the remaining northeastern states during various periods through 21 September.
West India is also expected to remain active. Konkan and Goa are likely to receive fairly widespread to widespread rain on 16 September and again during 19-21 September. Isolated to scattered rainfall is likely over Madhya Maharashtra and Marathawada throughout 16-21 September.
The forecast comes as the southwest monsoon enters its final phase, with rainfall distribution remaining uneven across regions. Continued rainfall in central, eastern and western parts could provide some relief to agricultural areas, while thunderstorms and lightning could pose risks to people, transport and outdoor activities.
The south-west monsoon season has so far brought cumulative rainfall of 673.6 mm during 1 June-14 September, 15% lower than the the normal 790.1 mm.
Meanwhile, conditions are becoming favourable for the southwest monsoon to begin withdrawing from parts of west Rajasthan around 19 September, signalling the onset of the retreating phase of the four-month rainy season.
The southwest monsoon typically starts withdrawing from the north-west in September, with its retreat progressing gradually towards the south and east. The development will be closely watched as the accounts for about 70% of India’s annual rainfall and its withdrawal marks the transition towards the post-monsoon season.
