Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast for parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Gangetic West Bengal on Sunday, September 20.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also expected to see heavy to very heavy rain.

Thunderstorms and lightning are forecast over sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar.

Residents in flood-prone areas are advised to check local bulletins.

The active southwest monsoon is driving the wet spell over eastern India.

Reports counting the states affected by rain, thunderstorms and strong winds on Sunday put the number at 18, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.

Strong surface winds are very likely over parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while Tamil Nadu may see gusts of 40 to 50 kmph with isolated heavy rain.

Winds of up to 60 to 65 kmph are possible in vulnerable areas, according to a forecast summary.

Delhi-NCR is forecast to see rain and thunderstorms with winds of about 30 to 40 kmph, with a maximum temperature near 34 degrees Celsius and a minimum near 24 degrees Celsius.

Lucknow is expected to reach about 34 degrees Celsius with a minimum near 26 degrees, and rain in Uttar Pradesh may extend into September 21.

Patna is forecast to see a maximum of about 34 degrees Celsius and a minimum near 27 degrees Celsius, with widespread thunderstorms across Bihar.

Heavy rain in hilly areas may cause landslides and disrupt travel, and lightning and hail are possible in the hills.

The overall pattern is driven by an active southwest monsoon over central, eastern and southern India during the season’s withdrawal phase.

The weather department advises people to avoid open fields, trees and electric poles during thunderstorms and to check local bulletins before travelling.

The IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning for Sunday, September 20, for parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Telangana.

Rain clouds during the monsoon in Goa (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

The IMD has predicted very heavy rainfall in sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim as part of an active weather system through September 23.

Bihar and Odisha are forecast to see heavy rain through September 18, while Chhattisgarh is expected to receive heavy rainfall between September 20 and 23.

Thunderstorms with heavy rain are forecast for Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab during the same period.

Widespread rain is also expected over east Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Konkan and Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Gusty winds of up to 60 kmph are forecast across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh as the monsoon enters its withdrawal phase.

Gusty winds of 30-50 kmph are expected over Gujarat, Konkan and Goa, Saurashtra and Kutch, and Madhya Maharashtra.

Stronger gusts of 40-60 kmph have been forecast for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Rayalaseema.

The IMD’s bulletin covers the period from September 17 to 23, describing active weather conditions across multiple zones as the southwest monsoon enters its withdrawal phase.

The monsoon’s withdrawal is expected to begin from parts of northwest India in the coming days, even as active rainfall continues in the eastern and southern regions.

Isolated heavy rainfall was recorded over East Rajasthan on September 17-18, alongside the wider spell of rain affecting northern and eastern states.

Residents in affected states have been advised to stay updated with local IMD bulletins and avoid non-essential travel during periods of heavy rainfall or strong winds.

The India Meteorological Department typically issues color-coded alerts (yellow, orange and red) as conditions intensify, urging precautionary measures in the most severely affected districts.

Heavy rainfall is also forecast for Bihar and Odisha through September 18, with Chhattisgarh expected to see heavy rain between September 20 and 23.

Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab are under alert for heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms during the forecast period.

Monsoon clouds over a city (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The IMD has forecast heavy rain for Delhi and Punjab through September 17, alongside similar warnings for Haryana.

Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are expected to see widespread rainfall with gusty winds up to 50 kmph, rising to 60 kmph over the following days.

A low-pressure area over Southeast Rajasthan and North Gujarat continues to bring widespread rain to Western and Central India.

Northeastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, remain under a heavy rainfall alert until September 18.

Southern India is also expected to see isolated heavy showers, covering Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and South Interior Karnataka.

Northeastern states including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya were placed under a heavy rainfall alert running until September 18.

Southern India, including Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and South Interior Karnataka, was expected to see isolated heavy showers on September 15.

The IMD’s forecast reflects a broad weather system affecting multiple regions of the country simultaneously, rather than a single localized event.

Heavy rainfall alerts of this kind typically prompt state disaster management authorities to activate contingency measures in vulnerable districts.

Gusty winds accompanying the rain raise the risk of tree falls, minor structural damage and disruption to outdoor activities in the affected regions.

Northern India has seen a pattern of intermittent heavy rain spells through September, with the IMD tracking multiple weather systems moving through the region.

Residents in affected states were advised to stay updated on local weather bulletins and avoid non-essential travel during the most intense spells of rain and wind.

The IMD forecast isolated heavy rainfall over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab during September 15-17, alongside widespread rainfall over the northern plains through September 17.

Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were forecast to see widespread rainfall with gusty winds up to 50 kmph on September 15, with wind intensity expected to increase to 60 kmph over the following two days.

Rain in Delhi, India, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0