Monsoon to gatecrash Independence Day celebrations: Rain alert out for these states

The monsoon is showing little sign of slowing down as India prepares to celebrate Independence Day, with several regions facing another wet day, with the spell expected to go further than Saturday.

In Short

• Widespread rain forecast on Independence Day across many states
• Delhi-NCR to experience wet weather during celebrations at Red Fort
• Rainfall caused by depression over Jharkhand, rains to continue post August 15

India's Independence Day celebrations on August 15 are likely to unfold under unsettled weather conditions in several parts of the country.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast widespread rain and isolated spells of heavy to very heavy rainfall across a number of states.

For Delhi-NCR, where the national Independence Day ceremony will be held at the Red Fort, the weather is expected to remain wet, too.

The IMD has forecast fairly widespread rainfall over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi on August 15, with isolated heavy rain also likely.

WIDESPREAD MONSOON RAIN INCOMING

The rain will not be limited to the national capital.

Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are also likely to see rainfall on Independence Day.

The IMD has forecast isolated heavy rainfall over all these regions, while Uttarakhand could see isolated spells of heavy to very heavy rain.

East and West Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are also expected to receive heavy rain, with very heavy rainfall possible at isolated places in East Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

For people stepping out for Independence Day events, the forecast therefore points to a largely cloudy and rainy weather pattern rather than a dry August morning in many parts of northern and central India.

ODISHA, JHARKHAND, NORTHEAST TO FACE HEAVY RAIN

Rain will also remain active across eastern and northeastern India.

The IMD expects fairly widespread rainfall over Odisha, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim around this period.

On August 15, isolated heavy rain is likely over Odisha and Jharkhand, while heavy rain is also forecast over Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and several northeastern states.

Parts of western India will remain wet too, with Gujarat expected to receive fairly widespread rain and isolated heavy rainfall.

Konkan and Goa are also likely to see widespread rain during this period.

WHY IS AUGUST SEEING FREQUENT RAIN?

The active spell is being supported by a depression over Jharkhand and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal.

On August 14, the system was moving west-northwestwards and was expected to weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area while moving across Jharkhand and north Chhattisgarh.

The monsoon trough was also passing through the depression, helping maintain a broad zone of rainfall across central and northern India.

The IMD's latest weather forecast suggests the wet spell will continue beyond Independence Day, with fairly widespread rainfall still expected across several parts of the country over the following days.

- Ends