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Rain Fury in South India: 8 Dead Across Karnataka & Tamil Nadu, Kerala on Red Alert

May 20, 2025, 5:26 pm

South India has been struggling with the destructive power of continuous rain for the last few days. Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu are all suffering from nature’s wrath as waterlogged roads, crumbling infrastructure, and loss of precious lives are being witnessed. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has released a string of warnings, indicating sustained weather issues in the region.

Bengaluru Fights Flooding After Heavy Rain

The capital of Karnataka, Bengaluru, was severely affected. Heavy rains caused critical waterlogging, particularly in important zones such as Silk Board Junction, Hosur Road, and BTM Layout. People waded through knee-deep water, and traffic congestion paralyzed the city.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had previously identified 210 areas of flooding risk in the city and said that “most of the work had been completed,” with 197 km of stormwater drains built at a cost of ₹2,000 crore. And yet, despite these investments, the city witnessed three rain-related fatalities within 36 hours.

Unfortunately, 63-year-old Manmohan Kamath and 12-year-old Dinesh were electrocuted when attempting to drain water at an apartment complex. “When he plugged the pump into a socket, there was a short circuit which led to his death,” police confirmed. Another death took place when a wall fell on a 35-year-old housekeeping employee in Mahadevapura.

Kerala on Edge Amid Red Alerts for Rain

Kerala too has been battered by relentless rains, with the IMD issuing red alert for Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, and Kozhikode. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority cautioned, “This is extremely heavy rainfall,” and pointed to a higher likelihood of landslides and mudslides in hill slopes. People in low-lying areas were advised to move to relief camps.

Encouragingly, the IMD declared that southwest monsoon conditions might make their entry into Kerala within the coming four to five days, making it the earliest monsoon arrival since 2009. This will also signal the onset of seasonal rains for large parts of southern India.

Tamil Nadu Reports Deaths as Rain Continues

Heavy rain with squally winds was reported from various areas of Tamil Nadu. A heart-rending tragedy occurred in the Madurai district during the rains. Three people, including a 10-year-old boy, were killed when the wall of a house came crashing down. “The victims were sitting outside the entrance in the absence of a power supply, and part of the wall fell on them,” said Superintendent Arvind.

IMD predictions suggest Chennai and surrounding regions will experience rain until May 26, with thunderstorms and cloudy weather predicted.

Immediate Demand for Climate-Responsive Infrastructure

Southern states continue to experience severe weather. These incidents highlight the imperative of having resilient urban infrastructure and efficient disaster management. Although early warning systems and notifications are crucial, proactive planning and public awareness are the most important in reducing losses in the future.

Rajasthan Receives 668mm Rainfall, Highest In 49 Years

September 15, 2024, 1:26 pm

Rajasthan has set a new record for monsoon rainfall this year, surpassing the previous record of 664mm from June 1 to September 15, 1975. As of Saturday, the state has received an average rainfall of 668.5mm.

Radhey Shyam Sharma, Director of the Jaipur Met Office, explained, “Rajasthan this year has received the highest rainfall in the past 49 years, with average rainfall in the state being 668.5mm since June 1 to Saturday (Sept 14), which is higher than the 665.4mm received from June 1 to Sept 15, 1975.” Sharma noted that from 1975 to 2023, the average rainfall in the state was around 450mm. He also highlighted that the all-time record was set in 1917, with an average rainfall of 811mm.

Sharma pointed out that this year’s average rainfall is 61% higher than that during the same period in 2023, which had 414.5mm of rainfall for the whole monsoon season.

Several districts have experienced extraordinary rainfall this year. Bundi, Baran, Dausa, Dholpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Pratapgarh, and Tonk have received over 1,000mm of rainfall. Specific figures include Dausa with 1,386.6mm, Sawai Madhopur with 1,278.4mm, and Karauli with 1,228.5mm.

Jaipur has also seen a significant increase in rainfall, recording 981.5mm compared to 500mm for the entire monsoon season in 2023. Most of the state’s dams are nearly full, prompting the opening of gates at Bisalpur, Mahi Bajaj Sagar, Jawahar Sagar, and Morel dams to release excess water.

The Met Office anticipates that with a minor spell of monsoon still remaining, the state could reach an average rainfall of 700mm for the season.

Typhoon Shanshan: Landslide Fatality and Severe Weather Warnings Issued in Japan

August 29, 2024, 5:22 am

Typhoon Shanshan, which began affecting parts of Japan, has already caused significant disruption, including a deadly landslide on Wednesday that resulted in one fatality and several injuries. Weather officials have issued the highest-level warnings in anticipation of the typhoon’s impact, forecasting that it will make landfall in southern Kyushu on Thursday. The storm is expected to bring up to 60 centimeters (23.6 inches) of rainfall within 24 hours, along with strong winds, high waves, and widespread rainfall across much of Japan, with particular concern for Kagoshima prefecture.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as Typhoon Shanshan continues its slow advance up the Japanese archipelago, fearing extensive damage due to the severe weather conditions it is bringing.

Delhi Gets Relief From Humidity After Rainfall On Sunday Morning

August 25, 2024, 4:44 pm

Rainfall hit several areas of Delhi early Sunday, providing relief from the humid conditions. Light rain also affected parts of Shastri Bhavan in Delhi. On August 24, continuous rainfall in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain district caused the Shipra River to rise, leading to the submersion of various temples at Ram Ghat on its banks.

In response, the district administration has set up barricades on roads leading to the river ghats to prevent accidents. Prior to this, on August 23, Delhi experienced severe waterlogging and significant traffic congestion following heavy rainfall in the city.

9 Killed, 12 Hurt In Lightning Strikes Across Odisha Districts

August 18, 2024, 8:16 am

In a tragic series of incidents, nine people lost their lives, and 12 others were injured in lightning strikes across various districts in Odisha on Saturday, according to local police reports.

The Chief Minister’s Office issued a statement confirming the fatalities, with two deaths each occurring in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, and Bhadrak districts, while Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, and Ganjam districts each reported one death. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incidents and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹4 lakh to the families of each of the deceased.

Chief Minister Majhi also extended his wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured in the lightning strikes and assured that they would receive free medical treatment.

In a separate incident in Bargarh district, 12 people sustained injuries from a lightning strike while working in a field near Munupali village in the Barpali block. Four of the injured are reported to be in critical condition and have been admitted to a local hospital for treatment.

Delhi Faces Humid July Despite Rainfall, Relief Expected in August

July 31, 2024, 4:35 am

Despite receiving over 200 mm of rainfall in July, Delhi experienced unusually hot and humid conditions, marked by low wind speeds, high moisture levels, and a lack of significant weather systems. Experts attribute this to the monsoon trough remaining predominantly south of Delhi-NCR, closer to Central India, which resulted in only light to moderate, patchy rains.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Delhi’s average maximum temperature for July was 35.8°C, just above the long-period average (LPA). However, high humidity, consistently over 50% throughout the month, led to a Heat Index (HI) of 45.8°C. This HI, or ‘real feel,’ made the weather seem considerably warmer than the actual recorded maximum temperature.

Thermal discomfort was further compounded by a high average wet-bulb temperature of 28.9°C, with many days surpassing 30°C. Wet-bulb temperatures above 28°C pose challenges for physical labor, while temperatures over 32°C can be dangerous even for healthy individuals. At 35°C, the body’s ability to regulate temperature diminishes, risking heatstrokes and collapse.

Mahesh Palawat, vice president at Skymet, explained that the monsoon trough’s position near Central India for most of July led to some cloud cover and moisture but inadequate rainfall. The region also lacked active weather systems, which might have brought rain and increased wind speeds.

Palawat noted that areas north of the monsoon trough, such as Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab, experienced similar weather due to easterly moisture-laden winds, which kept humidity levels high throughout the day. The only notable western disturbance in Delhi occurred between July 22 and 25.

As of 5:30 pm, Safdarjung recorded 203.7 mm of rainfall for the month, close to the LPA of 209.7 mm. Rain fell on 17 days out of 30, but no heavy rainfall was observed. In contrast, Delhi saw 243.3 mm of rainfall in June, largely due to a single-day deluge of 228.1 mm on June 28, and 384.6 mm in July 2023.

Pune Rainfall: Viral Images And Videos Show City’s Struggle With Floods

July 25, 2024, 1:41 pm

Pune has experienced unprecedented rainfall in the past 24 hours, causing widespread disruption across the city. Continuous downpours have led to severe traffic jams, waterlogging in multiple areas, landslides, and fallen branches on roads, posing significant risks to residents.

Watch The Video:

मुठा नदीपात्रात होणारा विसर्ग मोठ्या प्रमाणात असून या परिसरातील नागरिकांनी विशेष काळजी घ्यावी !#पुण्याचा_पाऊस pic.twitter.com/HU3fNGkfis

— Murlidhar Mohol (@mohol_murlidhar) July 25, 2024

Great pictures now look at this

Pune setting new records of worst town planning every #Monsoon !!!!

Let’s go swim !!!!!! #Pune #Punerains https://t.co/VVY8s9E7wV pic.twitter.com/YugDj5bih4

— Chaitanya… (@gaaw_waale) July 25, 2024

She: How do you know that there was heavy rainfall in Pune
Me: pic.twitter.com/GGmH8STzVw

— Being Punekar (@beingpunekar1) July 24, 2024

Heavy ?️ raining in pcmc area #PuneRains #pcmcrains #Monsoon2024 since last few days pic.twitter.com/8sMrMa0O3V

— rohit tambday (@TambdayRohit) July 25, 2024

As the rain intensified overnight, many citizens took to social media platform X to share visuals of the city’s plight. Posts highlighted flooded streets, stranded commuters, and various challenges faced by Pune’s residents.

HAVE A LOOK AT THE IMAGES:

The rain that Punekars were craving for since the start of monsoon this year!?️
Stay safe!#Pune #Punerains pic.twitter.com/jBFDSvyrO7

— Trupti More (@TruptiMore9) July 25, 2024

She: How do you know that there was heavy rainfall in Pune
Me: pic.twitter.com/GGmH8STzVw

— Being Punekar (@beingpunekar1) July 24, 2024

The heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of Pune’s dams has dramatically increased water levels. For the first time this monsoon season, the irrigation department discharged water from the Khadakwasla Dam into the Mutha River after it reached 95% capacity on July 24.

Pune is under a red alert according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). District Collector Suhas Diwase has ordered schools to close due to ongoing rain and severe waterlogging. The IMD reports that during June 1 to July 24, 2024, the Pune district received 567.2 mm of rain.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that he has coordinated with officials to put the Indian Air Force and Army on alert for potential flood relief operations in Pune and other affected areas. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is currently stationed at Mantralaya, overseeing coordination with various authorities.

The IMD forecasts that Pune will continue to receive heavy rainfall in isolated ghat regions and moderate showers in the plains until Friday.

Delhi Rain: Key Routes Affected By Waterlogging, Traffic Advisory Issued

July 24, 2024, 10:52 am

Delhi and Noida witnessed waterlogging in multiple areas after moderate rainfall hit parts of the national capital and its surrounding regions early on Wednesday, July 24. The Delhi Traffic Police issued advisories to the public as waterlogging was reported in several locations, including Chatta Rail Chowk, Nigam Bodh Ghat, Anand Parvat, and Zakhira underpass.

Rain also affected RK Puram and nearby areas in South Delhi. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a “yellow” alert for the national capital for the next two days, predicting further rain and thunderstorms.

Weather officials indicated that regions including Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Baghpat, and additional surrounding areas are likely to experience moderate to intense rainfall in the coming hours due to a monsoon trough causing scattered thunderstorms.

On Monday, Delhi residents experienced a sudden weather change with heavy rain in parts of the city.The weather agency reports that the highest temperature ever recorded was 36.2 degrees Celsius, or 1.3 degrees above average. The relative humidity stood at 68 percent at 5:30 pm.

The weather office has forecast moderate rainfall for Wednesday, with temperatures expected to range between 34 and 26 degrees Celsius. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded in the “satisfactory” category with a reading of 93 at 6 pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

Traffic Advisory

Due to water logging at Anand Parvat, traffic diversions are effective. Kindly follow the advisory.#DPTrafficAdvisory pic.twitter.com/rGzYQoMyXj

— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) July 24, 2024

Traffic Advisories Due to Waterlogging:

Chatta Rail Chowk: Traffic is affected on Syama Prasad Mukherjee Marg. Diversion points include Chatta Rail Red Light and Lothian Road. Commuters coming from NS Marg towards ISBT Kashmiri Gate are advised to take a left turn from Chatta Rail Red Light, go through Kodia Pul, ODRS Pul Mithai, Mori Gate Boulevard Road, and ISBT Kashmiri Gate. For those coming from ISBT towards NS Marg, the recommended route is ISBT Kashmiri Gate Boulevard Road, Mori Gate, Pul Duffrin, ODRS Kodia Pul, and NS Marg.

Traffic Alert
Traffic is affected on Vir Banda Bairagi Marg due to waterlogging at Zakhira underpass. Commuters are advised to avoid the stretch. pic.twitter.com/Uw8uZawyU9

— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) July 24, 2024

Nigam Bodh Ghat: Traffic diversions are in effect due to waterlogging.

Zakhira Underpass: Traffic on Vir Banda Bairagi Marg is affected. Commuters are advised to avoid this stretch.

Anand Parvat: Traffic diversions are also in place due to waterlogging.

Residents and commuters are advised to follow the traffic updates and plan their routes accordingly to avoid affected areas

Watch: Fish Spotted On Mumbai Local Train Tracks Amid Waterlogging

July 10, 2024, 12:54 pm

Heavy rainfall drenched Mumbai on Monday, resulting in up to 300 millimetres of rain within a few hours, marking the city’s most significant single-day precipitation since 2019. The deluge turned streets into rivers and railway tracks into impromptu waterways, disrupting daily life across Mumbai and neighboring districts. Schools, colleges, and commuters faced closures and challenges navigating through waterlogged roads and train stations.

Amidst the chaos, social media platforms were flooded with videos and photos capturing the havoc. One particularly memorable video showed fish swimming in the flooded railway tracks, sparking jokes and memes comparing the stations to an unexpected aquatic habitat.

Indian Railways ❌ Indian Waterways ✅
Heavy Rainfall Effect in Mumbai, Marine species on a tour to unexplored location ? #IndianRailways pic.twitter.com/q0yaqup0ZQ

— Trains of India (@trainwalebhaiya) July 9, 2024

“That’s a collaboration between railway ministry and fisheries department. It’s a multi-purpose project for employment generation and income enhancement for stranded passengers of delayed trains,” joked one user.

Another commented, “First time in my life I am seeing marine fish live on railway tracks bhaiya. Climate change and global warming can play havoc in future,” while a third chimed in, “India is such a diverse country. Its ecosystem is mesmerizing.”

“These are catfish, and during the monsoon, they often emerge from canals and other water bodies,” explained one social media user, shedding light on the aquatic invaders now navigating Mumbai’s railway network. The heavy rains have significantly impacted Mumbai’s infrastructure, especially its vital railway network, grappling with extensive waterlogging in many areas.

Meanwhile, the weather forecast remains grim for Mumbai, Thane, and other Maharashtra districts, with the Indian Meteorological Department predicting continued moderate to heavy rainfall until at least Saturday. The city has been placed under a ‘yellow’ alert, signaling caution due to persistent downpours expected until July 13.

WATCH: Bridge Collapses Due to Heavy Rainfall in Ramnagar, Uttarakhand

July 7, 2024, 1:14 am

During heavy monsoon rainfalls in Uttarakhand’s Ramnagar district on Saturday, a bridge collapsed, an event captured in a video. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported. The visuals depict the bridge collapsing into a swiftly flowing river, accompanied by nearby screams.

VIDEO | A bridge collapsed in Uttarakhand's Ramnagar earlier today amid heavy rainfall. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/teRkBcsaAz

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 6, 2024

The incident occurred a day after another bridge collapse near Gangotri, leaving 30–40 pilgrims stranded and resulting in two fatalities due to a sudden increase in river water at Devgad. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) successfully rescued 38 pilgrims, while two individuals, Sooraj (23) and Monu (31) from Delhi, lost their lives. Earlier in the week, SDRF rescued 10 youngsters stranded near Robbers Cave (Guchhupani) in Dehradun.

The incidents reflect a rise in rainfall-related incidents following recent heavy rains in Haridwar, causing significant flooding and submerging roads and vehicles. Local authorities cautioned against river bathing due to dangerous conditions.

On July 3, a severe landslide blocked the Tawaghat road in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, connecting Dharchula. A viral video showed a large portion of the mountain collapsing onto the road and into a nearby river near Rongti Nala.

IMD Forecasts Light To Moderate Rain For Northeast India

June 14, 2024, 12:14 pm

The weather agency Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate monsoon for the northeast and eastern areas of the country for the next couple of hours on Friday.

The places where moderate to light monsoon is going to occur in Sikkim and other surrounding areas of sub-Himalayan West Bengal, West Arunachal Pradesh, West Assam, and Meghalaya.

Furthermore, the IMD has also warned about thunderstorms with lighting in the further part of northeast Bihar for upcoming three hours.

Taking to X, the IMD said, ‘Light to moderate rainfall at most places with occasional intense spells of rainfall is very likely to continue over Sikkim & adjoining areas of sub-Himalayan West Bengal, West Arunachal Pradesh, West Assam and Meghalaya and light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning also likely over extreme northeast Bihar during next 3 hours.’

Meanwhile, yesterday on Thursday, IMD forecasts, that heavy rainfall is going to continue at Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, and Northeast India for the next 4-5 days, with isolated instances of extremely heavy rainfall.

As for other places in India, the southwest rain has already arrived in maharashtra, in places like Navsari, Jalgaon, Amravati, Chandrapur. In contrast, IMD has predicted heatwave in north India for coming 4-5 days.

Above Normal rainfall most likely this monsoon: Met Dept

May 28, 2024, 1:31 am

Since 2021, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been using a new strategy for issuing operational long rangeforecasts on a monthly and seasonal scales for rainfall and temperatures across the country. For this, a newly developed Multi-Model Ensemble (MME) forecasting system is used. The MME system utilizes simulations from the coupled global climate models (CGCMs) sourced from various global climate prediction and research centers, including IMD’s Monsoon Mission Climate Forecasting System (MMCFS) model.

On 15th April, 2024, the IMD had issued the first-stage forecast for the 2024 southwest monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall, consisting of quantitative and probabilistic forecasts for the country as a whole, and the spatial distribution of probabilistic forecasts for the tercile categories (above normal, normal, and below normal) of the seasonal (June-September) rainfall.

As part of the second stage forecasts, the IMD has prepared the following forecasts:

1 Updated quantitative and probabilistic forecasts for the monsoon seasonal rainfall over the country as a whole and spatial distribution of the probabilistic forecasts for the seasonal rainfall over the country.

2. Probabilistic forecasts for the seasonal rainfall over the four homogenous regions of India (northwest India, central India, south Peninsula, and northeast India) and the monsoon core zone (MCZ) consisting of most of the rainfed agriculture areas of the country.

3. Probabilistic forecast for the June rainfall over the country as a whole and spatial distribution of the probabilistic forecasts for the June rainfall over the country.

4. Spatial distribution of the probabilistic forecasts for the June Temperatures (Maximum and Minimum) and Outlook for Heatwaves for the month of June over the country.
The updated MME forecast for the 2024 southwest monsoon season rainfall has been calculated by incorporating forecasts from different CGCMs based on the May initial conditions. The MME forecast specifically utilizes best few climate models that have the highest forecast skills over the Indian monsoon region, including the IMD’s MMCFS model to prepare an improved and reliable forecast.

Heat Wave over a location refers to a prolonged period of excessively hot weather (above certain threshold temperature value) over the location.

2. Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Conditions in the equatorial Pacific & Indian Oceans
The strong El Niño conditions over equatorial Pacific observed in early part of this year have weakened rapidly into weak El Niño conditions and are currently transitioning into ENSO-neutral conditions. The latest Climate model forecasts indicate ENSO-neutral conditons are likely to establish during the beginning of the monsoon season and La Niña conditions are likely to develop during the later part of the monsoon season.

At present, neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions are prevailing over the Indian Ocean. The latest global climate model forecasts indicate these contions to transform into positive IOD conditions during the monsoon season.

3. Second Stage Forecasts for the 2024 Southwest Monsoon Rainfall

3a. Updated Forecast for the Rainfall over the Country as a whole during Monsoon Season, 2024

Quantitatively, the monsoon seasonal rainfall for the country as a whole is likely to be 106% of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a model error of ± 4%. The LPA of the season rainfall over the country as a whole for the period 1971-2020 is 87 cm.

The 5 category probability forecasts for the Seasonal (June to September) rainfall over the country as a whole during 2024 are given below. It suggests highest probability for the above normal rainfall (105-110% of LPA) for the country as a whole. It may be noted that the probability for above normal rainfall category is exactly double of its climatological probability.

3.b. Updated Forecast for the Spatial Distribution of rainfall over the Country during monsoon season, 2024

The spatial distribution of probabilistic forecasts for tercile categories (above normal, normal, and below normal) of seasonal rainfall (June to September, 2024) is depicted in Figure 1. The forecast indicates above normal rainfall is most likely over most parts of the country except many areas of northern part of Northwest India, Northeast India and eastern part of the Central India and adjoining areas of east India where below normal to normal rainfall is most likely.There is no signal by the model over the white shaded areas within the land region of the country.

Above-normal rainfall can boost agriculture and water resources but also brings risks of flooding, transportation disruptions, public health issues, and ecosystem damage. To manage these, it is advised to reinforce infrastructure, implement early warnings provided by IMD, enhance surveillance and conservation efforts, and build suitable response systems in sectors likely to be affected.

3c. Forecast for the Monsoon Rainfall over the four Homogenous regions of the country and Monsoon Core Zone (MCZ) during Monsoon Season, 2024
The tercile category forecasts for the four broad homogenous regions and MCZ for the monsoon seasonal (June-September) rainfall during 2024 are given in the tables below. Tercile categories have equal climatological probabilities of 33.33% of LPA each.

4. Probabilistic Forecast for the Rainfall over the Country during June, 2024
The average June rainfall for the country as a whole is most likely to be normal (92-108% of the Long Period Average (LPA)).The LPA of the June rainfall over the country as a whole for the period 1971-2020 is16.69cm.

The spatial distribution of probabilistic forecasts for tercile categories (above normal, normal, and below normal) for rainfall during June, 2024 is displayed in Figure

2. The above normal monthly rainfall is most likely over most areas of the south
peninsula, and adjoining central India, and over isolated areas of Northwest and Northeast India. Below normal rainfall is most likely over many areas of northern and eastern parts of Northwest India and eastern part of Central India, and some areas over Northeast India and southeastern Peninsula. Normal rainfall is most likely over the remaining areas.There is no signal by the model over white shaded areas within the land region of the country.

5. Probabilistic Forecast for the Temperatures over the Country during June, 2024
In June 2024, above-normal monthly maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country, except many parts of the southern peninsular India, where normal to below-normal temperatures are most likely.

During June 2024, above-normal monthly minimum temperatures are likely across most parts of the country, except for the extreme northern parts of northwest India and a few pockets of east and Northeast India, where normal to below-normal minimum temperatures are most likely(Fig. 3b).

6. Heat Wave outlook for the Month of June 2024
The anomaly (deviation from the normal) forecast for the number of heatwave days in the country for June 2024 is shown in Fig. 4. During June, 2024, above- normal heatwave days are likely over most parts of Northwest India and adjoining areas of Central India.
During heat waves, vulnerable populations, like the elderly and those with health conditions, face risks of heat-related illnesses. Prolonged extreme heat strains infrastructure and leads to dehydration.

Authorities must act proactively by opening cooling centers, issuing advisories, and reducing urban heat islands. These steps are crucial for protecting public health during heat waves. One has to stay hydrated and remain under optimally cool environment and avoid strenuous activities during peak heat hours to stay safe during heatwaves.

7. Extended Range Forecast and short to medium range forecasting services
IMD also regularly prepares and provides extended range forecasts (7–day averaged forecasts for the next four weeks) for rainfall, maximum temperatures, and minimum temperatures over the country. These forecasts are updated every week on Thursday.

These forecasts are based on the Multi-model Ensemble Dynamical Extended Range Forecasting System, which is currently operational at IMD. The forecasts are available through the IMD website

https://mausam.imd.gov.in/imd_latest/contents/extendedrangeforecast.php).
The extended range forecast is followed by short to medium range forecasts issued daily based on various very high resolution Global abd Regional Models.

IMD issues heatwave alerts for Bengal, Odisha; possible relief from rain in these states

April 28, 2024, 12:02 pm

The IMD has issued a ‘red alert’ for Odisha and West Bengal, an ‘orange alert’ for Bihar and Jharkhand, and a ‘yellow alert’ for eastern Uttar Pradesh and northern parts of Kerala due to severe heatwave conditions.

Rising Temperatures:

Panagarh in Paschim Bardhaman district recorded West Bengal’s highest temperature at 44.6 degrees Celsius. Kolkata reached 41.1 degrees Celsius. The other places which recorded above 40 degree Celsius temperatures are Medinipur(43.5), Bankura (43.2), Barrackpore (43.2), Bardhaman (43), Asansol (42.5), Purulia (42.7) and Sriniketan (42).

Maximum temperatures reported (≥40°C) at 1730 hrs IST of today, the 27th April 2024: pic.twitter.com/f0S1MK5a0y

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) April 27, 2024

Intensifying Heat in Odisha:

In Odisha, Angul recorded a scorching 44.7 degrees Celsius, while Bhubaneswar touched 44.6 degrees Celsius, breaching the 44-degree mark for the first time this season.

Weather Outlook for Delhi-NCR:

Residents experienced relief from the heat after Friday’s rainfall brought down the maximum temperature to 38°C on Saturday. However, IMD forecasts predict a return to temperatures above 40°C by Monday.

Rainfall Forecast by IMD:

Light rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms is expected over Jammu and Kashmir and Tamil Nadu. Madhya Pradesh, the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, and north Telangana are also expected to experience rainfall and lightning.

Impact on Himachal Pradesh:

Intermittent rain accompanied by thunderstorms and hail lashed several parts of Himachal Pradesh, with fresh snowfall in tribal areas causing a sharp drop in temperature and closure of over 60 roads.

Precautionary Measures:

The Ministry of Animal Husbandry has taken several measures in response to the bird flu outbreak, including a total restriction on the sale and purchase of all birds in affected areas. Rapid response teams have been deployed to contain the spread of the virus.

IMD Alerts Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, MP, and Rajasthan for Rainfall and Thunderstorms

April 14, 2024, 7:39 pm

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning about a current spell of rainfall accompanied by moderate thunderstorms expected across regions including Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan on April 14th.

According to the weather department on the social media platform X, it was forecasted that thunderstorms, accompanied by light to moderate intensity rain and gusty winds with speeds ranging from 30-50 Km/h, are expected to affect isolated areas, including Delhi, NCR (Bahadurgarh, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Manesar), and Meham, and their adjoining regions.

The weather department tweeted, “Ongoing rainfall spell with moderate thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and hail over Northwest India is likely to continue during next 48 hours and abate thereafter.”

Ongoing rainfall spell with moderate thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds & hail over Northwest India likely to continue during next 48 hours and abate thereafter. pic.twitter.com/PdNUE3ONPg

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) April 14, 2024

The IMD additionally forecasted isolated hailstorms in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on April 14th and 15th.

In another tweet, the IMD mentioned the likelihood of hailstorms occurring at isolated locations in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim on April 16th.

According to the IMD, an intense western disturbance, manifested as a cyclonic circulation, is situated over northeast Iran, accompanied by an embedded trough in the middle and upper tropospheric westerlies, extending approximately along Long. 55°E to the north of Lat. 26°N. This disturbance has induced a low-pressure area over southwest Rajasthan.

A cyclonic circulation is present over northeast Rajasthan, along with an east-west trough extending from this circulation to Gangetic West Bengal across south Uttar Pradesh, south Bihar, and north Jharkhand in the lower tropospheric levels. Additionally, there is a likelihood of high moisture feeding from the Arabian Sea into Northwest India on April 14th and 15th, as per the IMD.

IMD reported that a new Western disturbance is expected to impact Northwest India on April 18. Under the influence of these weather systems, widespread light to moderate rainfall/snowfall with thunderstorm, lightning, and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) are likely over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-BaltistanMuzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand on April 14 and 15, 2024. Moreover, scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning, and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) is expected over West Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh on April 14 and 15, 2024.

The IMD predicts that isolated hailstorms are highly likely over Jammu Division, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand on April 14th and 15th, as well as over Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh on April 14th, 2024.

Isolated heavy rainfall/snowfall is highly probable over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-GilgitBaltistan-Muzaffarabad and Himachal Pradesh on April 14th and 15th, 2024. Furthermore, strong surface winds (30-40 kmph) are expected to prevail over Haryana, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh on April 16th and 17th, 2024.

In the previous month, the IMD issued a hailstorm alert and predicted the possibility of rainfall in isolated areas of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

IMD Issues Orange Alert for Heavy Rainfall in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal

November 30, 2023, 4:11 pm

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange warning for coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, predicting heavy to extremely heavy rain between November 30 and December 2-4. Residents in these areas are advised to remain vigilant and safe during this time.

Key points from the IMD alert:

Coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal are expected to experience very heavy to isolated heavy rainfall (115.6 to 204.4 mm) from November 30 to December 2-4.
Specific districts likely to witness heavy to very heavy rain include Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Villupuram, and the Puducherry and Karaikal areas.
A well-marked low-pressure area over the Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Andaman Sea is expected to concentrate into a depression in the next 24 hours. It is projected to intensify into a cyclonic storm over the Southwest Bay of Bengal around December 3 and reach the North Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh coasts as a cyclonic storm on December 4.
Weather conditions during this period may include generally cloudy skies, moderate to heavy rain with thunderstorms and lightning, and the likelihood of very heavy rain in some areas.
The maximum temperature is predicted to be around 29 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature may be around 24 degrees Celsius.

Additionally, heavy rainfall was reported in various parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal on Wednesday, prompting the IMD to issue a yellow alert for the entire state. Several areas experienced waterlogging, leading to the closure of schools in Chennai on Thursday. Residents are urged to stay informed and take necessary precautions during the forecasted heavy rainfall.

Rainfall activity to continue over Northwest India, intensity may differ, says IMD

July 9, 2023, 5:28 pm

In the midst of heavy rains in many regions of the country, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) projected on Sunday that rainfall activity will continue throughout Northwest India, but the intensity of showers may vary.

Dr Charan Singh, Head of the Regional Meteorology Center, New Delhi said, “The intensity of rain that was yesterday will be the same in the mountains today, although the intensity of rainfall will decrease in plains from today. Yet there are chances of heavy rainfall’.

“If I speak about Delhi NCR, still there are chances of heavy rainfall at 1-2 locations and then Delhi NCR will not be witnessing heavy rainfall for the next 4 to 5 days. Although rain will continue to occur intermittently, but the intensity will be less,” Singh said.

He also stated that Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in Northwest India will see exceptionally severe rains over the next two days.

“If we speak about Northwest India, especially the mountains then all the Himalayan regions especially Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will witness extremely heavy rainfall for the next two days and after that, the intensity of rainfall will decrease, but heavy rainfall will continue to occur.

If we speak about Jammu and Kashmir, there are chances of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours and after that of heavy rainfall”, Singh said.

Gujarat CM Bhupendra patel tours Rain-affected areas in jamnagar

July 2, 2023, 2:18 pm

Gujarat’s Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the families who had been affected by the torrential rains on Saturday. Beginning on 1 July, the Meteorological department expects a decrease in rainfall intensity. Amit Shah, the home minister, spoke with the chief minister earlier today about the flood-like circumstances brought on by the nonstop rain and promised help from the central government. In Gujarat, many rivers and waterways are overflowing, causing a number of areas to be submerged.

A video of the overflowing Vanthali Ozat Viar Dam in Junagarh from heavy rainfall in the region surfaced on social media. Another video of the Gira waterfall on the overflowing Ambika River in the Dang district also made rounds of social media.
However, the Gira waterfall also made for a breathtaking sight, drawing tourists from far and near. Many were seen capturing the sight in the lenses. Kalwa River in Junagarh was also overflowing, affecting normal life in the region.

IMD predicts light rainfall over western Himalayan region for next 4-5 days

June 4, 2023, 7:19 pm

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted light rain over the western Himalayan region on Sunday, providing a respite from the summer heat for the next four to five days.

Due to a Western disturbance over Iran, the weather service predicts light rainfall activity over Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi NCR for the next two days.

“Light rainfall activity is expected over the western Himalayan region over the next 4-5 days due to a Western disturbance over Iran. Very light rainfall is expected over Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP and Delhi NCR in the next two days. After this temperature is expected to rise” said Dr Naresh Kumar, Senior Scientist at IMD-Delhi.

IMD: Rainfall is expected in several districts of Chhattisgarh until 20 March

March 19, 2023, 1:53 pm

Earlier on Saturday, India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for multiple districts in Chhattisgarh as they predicted light to moderate rain with thundershowers.

As per the statement given by IMD Meteorologist HP Chandra, the disturbance is approaching which can led to a cyclonic circulation in Rajasthan.

In his statement, Chandra stated that, “A Western Disturbance is approaching, resulting in the formation of an induced cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan, as a result of the combined effect of both, the region is receiving abundant moisture from the Bay of Bengal. Only one Dronika has passed from Karnataka to Jharkhand via North Chhattisgarh, resulting in light to moderate rain in some areas of the state today.”

In another news, due to a sudden change in the weather, CM of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel’s visit was cancelled. He was scheduled to visit Kondagaon. After his visit was cancelled, the CM participated in the programme through video conferencing.

Mandous cyclonic storm is on in Maharashtra, yellow alert issued

December 12, 2022, 4:18 pm

‘Yellow’ weather alerts were issued for the Maharashtra regions of Nagpur, Gondia, Amravati, and Wardha in anticipation of further abnormal rainfall brought on by the weakening cyclonic storm Mandous. Additionally, temperatures have plummeted throughout the western state on Monday.. A “usually cloudy sky with light rain” has been predicted by the regional weather office for Nagpur.

A “yellow” alert signifies that six to eleven centimetres of rain are predicted.

Mandous, which made landfall near Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu over the last week, has also caused rain, foggy, and cold weather in sections of Karnataka, including the state’s capital Bengaluru (where, too, a “yellow” alert was issued), as well as parts of Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Today in Maharashtra, temperatures fell in a number of locations.

The minimum temperature in Colaba, Mumbai, was 24 degrees Celsius, while it was 17.8 degrees in Aurangabad, 21.1 degrees in Kolhapur, 19.2 degrees in Nashik, and 24 degrees in Ratnagiri.

According to the India Meteorological Department, although Mandous has weakened since it hit the Tamil Nadu coast, the remnants of the weather system will bring rainfall to southern states and union territories till December 15 at least.

The IMD said that ‘while cyclonic circulation currently lies over north interior Tamil Nadu and adjoining south interior Karnataka and north Kerala, it is likely to emerge into southeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea off north Kerala-Karnataka coast. Under this influence, a fresh low-pressure area has been predicted to form over the same region on December 13’.

Yet another cyclonic circulation is expected over the south Andaman Sea around the same time and, under its influence, rainfall is likely over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on December 14 and 15, the IMD said.

Light To Moderate Rainfall In Karnataka

December 10, 2022, 12:41 pm

Over the south interior, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre has predicted widespread light to moderate rainfall on 10 December. “Widespread very light to moderate rains with isolated heavy rains likely over SIK districts and isolated to scattered very light to light rains likely over Malnad & NIK districts and dry weather likely to prevail over Coastal districts. Widespread light to moderate rains is likely over the BBMP area,” the weather forecasting agency said. However, on 11 December rainfall intensity will be decreased over south Interior Karnataka.

295 dengue cases in a week bring Delhi’s annual total to over 2.4k

November 8, 2022, 12:46 pm

Dengue infections have reached over 2,400 this year, according to data released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Monday. The Capital reported 295 cases in November.

Because of the irregular rainfall that persisted through October, according to Dr. BL Sherwal, medical superintendent at Safdarjung Hospital, this year’s instances have been particularly high.

Dengue infections reached 2,175 overall as of October 26. As of November 4, 295 cases have been reported this month. Of the total cases reported, 693 were discovered in September, and in October, the monthly total increased to 1,238.

Delhi has not yet reported any dengue deaths despite the high number. The vector-borne illness claimed the lives of 23 people last year. Infection fatalities ranged from one in 2020 to two in 2019, four in 2018, and ten in 2017.

Despite an increase in dengue cases, particularly during the previous two to three weeks, health experts from around the city said that the majority of the symptoms are “mild to moderate”.

Similar patterns were also confirmed by the leaders of Lok Nayak Hospital, the largest government hospital in Delhi, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, and Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital.

“People are recovering with mild to moderate symptoms,” said Dr Subhash Giri, medical director of GTB and RGSS.

“People must ensure that they do not allow stagnation of water in their premises. The positive sign, however, is that cases coming in now are not very severe,” said Dr Sherwal.

Heavy rainfall for next three days in UP, Uttarakhand among other states: IMD

October 5, 2022, 5:02 pm

The Indian Meteorological Department predicts heavy downpours for Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand over the next three days, with a Friday high in severity (IMD). The weather forecasting organisation also anticipated significant rainfall in the following two to three days over Odisha, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. Over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam today, there is also a very good chance of isolated extremely heavy rainfall.

According to IMD, the accompanying cyclonic circulation currently sits over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and the surrounding areas in lower tropospheric levels, while the low pressure area over westcentral Bay of Bengal and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh has become less noticeable. In lower tropospheric levels, the trough extends from coastal Andhra Pradesh to Uttarakhand, passing through Chhattisgarh, East Madhya Pradesh, and central Uttar Pradesh.

Under the impact of these systems, Uttarakhand and West Uttar Pradesh are anticipated to have scattered heavy spells from October 6 to 8 along with widespread light to moderate rainfall. Similar rainfall activity is anticipated in eastern Uttar Pradesh through October 9. On Friday and Saturday, isolated areas of Uttarakhand and northwest Uttar Pradesh are likely to experience extremely severe rains.

Today, it is quite possible that Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, and East Madhya Pradesh will get widespread mild to moderate rainfall with a few isolated heavy rains. It is also anticipated that similar rainfall will occur in Odisha tomorrow, in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim on October 8-9, in East Madhya Pradesh until October 7, and in West Madhya Pradesh and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands from October 6-8.

According to an IMD press release, there will likely be “fairly widespread/widespread light/moderate rainfall with isolated heavy falls and thunderstorm/lightning very likely over Arunachal Pradesh and Assam & Meghalaya on 05th, 08th & 09th and over Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram & Tripura on 08th & 09th October, 2022.”

5 of the strangest things that have fallen from the sky

October 4, 2022, 6:20 pm

What have you seen falling from the sky other than rain or snow? Can you imagine if fish, spiders, or even a strange substance that looked a whole lot like blood started raining down from above? Well, some people around the world certainly can! Here are some of the weirdest things that have ever fallen from the sky.

Fish

Can you imagine fishes falling from the sky? It is going to be a weird sight for sure. But there is an explanation for this. In coastal areas, stormy weather can create a waterspout, a tornado-like phenomenon that can suck marine life out of bodies of water like lakes and oceans. The wind will then carry the fish inland, where they’ll come tumbling to the ground. It’s been documented everywhere from Sri Lanka to Australia to Mexico, and as recently as 2017. Sometimes, if the fish are edible, residents of the affected communities will celebrate the “fish rain” as a boon.

2. Frogs

Frogs can also become a victim of waterspouts, due to which they fall on the land surprising the people living on the land. Ancient Greek philosopher Heraclides Lembus wrote about instances when so many frogs rained from the sky that “the houses and the roads have been full of them,” and in 2005, residents of Odzaci, Serbia, saw thousands of tiny frogs fall with passing storm clouds. Though sometimes, the lengthy fall will kill the critters, other times, they will hop and amble around their new locality. In Serbia, for instance, villagers reported that the fallen frogs simply hopped away to look for water.

3. Golf Balls

Anyone would be surprised but this has happened in Florida in 1969. Perhaps even weirder, no local golf courses were missing any balls. The reason was never entirely confirmed, but most experts theorized that a waterspout scooped up all of the golf balls that had been hit into the water by errant golfers.

4. Spiders

Creepy spiders falling from the sky can make anyone wants to disappear. It happened in 2015 in Australia, and then even more recently in Brazil in 2019. But, unlike the fish and the frogs, the spiders were not yanked from their homes by violent storms. The spider rains result from a process called “ballooning,” where the spiders produce filaments to launch themselves into the air. They do this in an attempt to catch an air current and travel to a new location, and it’s something they do fairly often. So why aren’t spider rains more common, you ask? That’s because it’s very uncommon for huge amounts of spiders to do this at the same time.

5. Money

The only rain that is pretty is raining money. Raining money has occurred several times throughout history, some of them recently. In 2015, hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of United Arab Emirates dirham currency showered over Kuwait City. In Serbia, a plane carrying gold and diamonds spilled some cargo over the airport runway in 2018. Back stateside, Indianapolis experienced a similar phenomenon in 2017 when an electrician noticed around $200 worth of bills blowing off of a roof where he was working.