IMD Issues Heavy Rain Alert For 18 States: Delhi, UP, And Mountains On High Alert

The monsoon season in India has taken a dramatic turn as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a significant weather warning for 18 states across the nation. While the plains had recently experienced a brief hiatus in monsoon activity, the weather office predicts a resurgence of heavy rainfall starting Monday. This shift is expected to bring intense weather conditions, including thunderstorms and lightning, to various regions over the next four days. The IMD has specifically highlighted that the northern and eastern parts of India are likely to witness torrential downpours during this period.

States Under High Alert

The comprehensive alert issued by the weather department covers a wide geographical area. The states and union territories placed under watch include Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. These mountainous regions are already grappling with the effects of the monsoon, and the new alert suggests no immediate relief. In the plains, the alert extends to Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Delhi, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, while Also, the central and eastern states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal are also expected to receive significant rainfall over the coming four days. The IMD has also issued specific warnings for the northeastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, along with the coastal state of Odisha.

Weather Conditions in the Plains

The IMD report provides a detailed outlook for the plain states, while over the next 2 to 3 days, certain locations in West Bengal and Bihar are expected to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall. In Uttar Pradesh, both eastern and western parts are likely to see rain and thundershowers within the next 24 hours. Rajasthan is also on the radar, with light rain predicted for specific districts such as Bikaner, Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh, and Churu on July 14 and 15. Also, an alert for strong dusty winds has been issued for Western Rajasthan, while in the national capital, Delhi, the maximum temperature isn't expected to see any major changes over the next 7 days. For Monday, the IMD predicts strong surface winds during the day in Delhi, with the maximum temperature hovering around 37 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature near 27 degrees Celsius.

Crisis in the Mountainous Regions

The situation in the mountains remains critical. Reports indicate that cloudbursts are occurring in some areas while entire hillsides are sliding in others. Roads have been blocked due to massive boulders falling from the heights. This celestial calamity has spared no one, with roads, shops, and houses all being swept away or submerged by the floods. This crisis is expected to escalate in 18 states today. Specifically, the IMD has issued a Red Alert for 6 districts in Himachal Pradesh due to the threat of heavy rain. Similarly, a Red Alert has been issued for Uttarakhand, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region.

Why the Monsoon Paused in the Plains

The All India Weather Report from the IMD explains the scientific reason behind the recent pause of the monsoon in the plains. Dry winds coming from the direction of Pakistan have spread across the Arabian Sea, Central India, and South India. This atmospheric movement has pushed the monsoon clouds away from large plain areas, including Delhi-NCR, towards the mountains. Consequently, while the plains saw a temporary dry spell, the mountains have been witnessing a continuous onslaught of rain and related disasters.