IMD Issues Heavy Rain Alert for North India as Monsoon Set to Intensify
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a significant increase in rainfall activity over northwest India, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall from June 28 to 30. This announcement comes amid a 19% rain deficiency nationwide, with northwest India experiencing a 57% deficit and central India 23%.
The monsoon’s progress has been delayed by about a week, currently passing through Mundra, Mehsana, Udaipur, Shivpuri, Siddhi, Lalitpur, Chaibasa, Haldia, Pakur, Sahibganj, and Raxaul. The IMD anticipates the monsoon will advance over the next 3-4 days, covering remaining parts of North Arabian Sea, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, East Uttar Pradesh, West Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, northern Punjab, and northern Haryana.
The monsoon’s delay was noted to have slowed down around June 11. M Rajeevan, former secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, stated on X that the monsoon is expected to cover the entire country by July 5, with an active phase and heavy rains along the west coast and north India anticipated for the next 2-3 weeks. This period has a high probability of extreme rainfall and potential flooding in north India.
The IMD has issued an orange alert for isolated very heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand from June 28 to 30, East Uttar Pradesh from June 28 to 29, and Haryana and West Uttar Pradesh from June 29 to 30.
Monsoon conditions are expected to improve, covering most of northwest India between June 27 and July 3.
