The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for several states across India, warning of heavy rainfall on August 20. The states facing the brunt of the anticipated downpours include West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, and Kerala.
The IMD attributes the heavy rainfall to a low-pressure area situated over south Bangladesh. In a social media post, the agency stated that this low-pressure area is likely to cause heavy to very heavy rainfall over East and East-central India for the next three days.
Additionally, the IMD forecasts isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Lakshadweep for the next two to three days.
In Delhi, the Regional Meteorological Centre predicts a maximum temperature of around 36 degrees Celsius during the day, with the minimum temperature hovering around 27 degrees Celsius. The weather department anticipates light rain and a generally cloudy sky in the national capital today, with wet spells predicted for the upcoming five days.
IMD scientist Dr Naresh Kumar, on August 18, stated that heavy to very heavy rainfall activity is expected in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and the South peninsular area. He also mentioned that heavy rainfall is predicted in the Northwestern states like Uttar Pradesh over the next 5-7 days.
IMD’s Forecast for South Peninsular India
The Meteorological Department’s latest press release forecasts “isolated heavy rainfall” over Kerala and Lakshadweep until August 21. Andhra Pradesh is expected to receive similar rainfall on August 20, while Karnataka is likely to see isolated heavy rainfall on August 20, August 24, and August 25. The IMD predicts “isolated very heavy rainfall” in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and Lakshadweep on August 20.
IMD’s Forecast for West and Central India
The weather bulletin dated August 19 states that fairly widespread to widespread light/moderate rainfall is very likely over central India, Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra; scattered to fairly widespread rainfall over Marathwada, and Gujarat during the week.
IMD’s Forecast for East and Northeast India
The IMD forecasts “isolated heavy rainfall” in West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar, and Jharkhand, with precipitation expected to continue until August 23. It also predicts showers in Odisha on August 20 and 23, in Arunachal Pradesh on August 20, August 22, and August 23, and in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura until August 24.
