Several parts of India are likely to see heavy to very heavy rainfall on Friday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning of intense rain, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds across multiple regions. East Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha are among the areas facing very heavy rainfall warnings, while several other states are likely to receive heavy showers.
The weather activity comes as a deep depression over south Odisha and adjoining north coastal Andhra Pradesh moves north-northwestwards and gradually weakens. The system is expected to continue influencing rainfall over parts of central and eastern India.
Heavy rain forecast across several states
According to the IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places over Chhattisgarh, East Madhya Pradesh, East Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, and Vidarbha on September 25. Heavy rainfall is also forecast over Assam and Meghalaya, Bihar, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Kerala, Telangana, Uttarakhand, West Madhya Pradesh and West Uttar Pradesh.
The latest regional warning issued by the IMD on September 25 puts East Uttar Pradesh under a very heavy rain warning, with thunderstorms, lightning and squall activity also possible. West Uttar Pradesh has a heavy-rain warning for the day.
Uttarakhand is also under a heavy-rain warning on Friday. The situation could intensify over the next two days, with the IMD forecasting extremely heavy rainfall over the state on September 26 and very heavy rainfall on September 27.
Odisha and Chhattisgarh remain key rain zones
Odisha is among the areas expected to experience significant rainfall on September 25. The IMD has issued a very heavy rain warning for the state, along with thunderstorm and lightning activity.
Chhattisgarh is also under a very heavy rainfall warning. The state had already recorded extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas on September 24, and the IMD expects very heavy rainfall to continue on September 25 and 26.
The weather system responsible for much of this activity was centred over south Odisha and adjoining north coastal Andhra Pradesh on Thursday evening. The IMD said it was likely to move north-northwestwards and weaken gradually into a depression.
Thunderstorms and strong winds likely
Rain will not be the only concern. The IMD has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds in several parts of the country.
Thundersqualls, with wind speeds of 50-60 kmph and gusts up to 70 kmph, are likely at isolated places over Chhattisgarh and East Uttar Pradesh. Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are also possible over several areas including Bihar, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttarakhand and West Uttar Pradesh.
Residents in areas experiencing thunderstorms should avoid open spaces and refrain from taking shelter under trees during lightning activity.
Flash flood risk in several areas
The rainfall could also create localised flooding problems. The IMD's flash-flood assessment issued with the forecast identified a low to moderate flash-flood risk for several watersheds and neighbourhoods in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand and Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam through September 25.
The weather department warned that surface runoff, waterlogging and inundation could occur in low-lying areas where soils are already saturated. Heavy rain could also affect road and rail traffic, reduce visibility and trigger localised landslides or mudslides in vulnerable locations.
What about Delhi and other north Indian areas?
Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh do not have a rain warning for September 25 in the latest IMD regional warning. However, nearby Uttar Pradesh remains active, particularly East Uttar Pradesh, where a very heavy rainfall warning is in place.
The IMD has also forecast continued rainfall activity over Uttar Pradesh over the following days. East Uttar Pradesh is expected to remain under a very heavy rain warning on September 26, while West Uttar Pradesh is likely to see heavy rainfall through September 27.
IMD forecast for the coming days
The wet spell is not expected to end immediately. Uttarakhand could see extremely heavy rainfall on September 26, while Himachal Pradesh is expected to receive heavy rain on September 26 and very heavy rain on September 27. Parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh could also see thunderstorms later in the forecast period.
Meanwhile, rainfall activity is expected to gradually ease over parts of Odisha and the Andhra Pradesh region as the weather system weakens, although isolated heavy rainfall may continue.
The IMD has advised people in areas affected by heavy rain and thunderstorms to monitor local weather updates, avoid unnecessary travel during intense rainfall and remain cautious in flood-prone and low-lying areas.
