Motorists make their way through a rain-soaked road amid showers on Okhla-Sarita Vihar Road, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)Salman Ali

Delhi, Punjab on monsoon standby: Rain to hit West, Central India on Tuesday

The IMD has forecast heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds across several states on July 7 as the southwest monsoon remains active over India.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Heavy rain to continue over west coast, central and north India on July 7
  • Southwest monsoon advancing into Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab
  • Thunderstorms with gusty winds forecast in several states and adjoining seas

Heavy rainfall is set to continue across large parts of India on Tuesday, July 7, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning of intense showers over the west coast, central India and parts of the north, while thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds are likely in several other states.

The forecast comes as the southwest monsoon continues its gradual advance into northwestern India, with conditions remaining favourable for it to cover more parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab over the next three days.

Waterlogging is seen in Mumbai after heavy rains. (Photo: PTI)

The heaviest rain is expected over Gujarat, Konkan and Goa, parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, where isolated places could receive extremely heavy rainfall.

Such downpours can trigger urban flooding, waterlogging and disruption to transport, especially in low-lying areas.

RAINS WARNING FROM HIMALAYAS TO CENTRAL INDIA

Apart from the west coast, the IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, parts of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Vidarbha.

A Delhi street is seen amid rain. (Photo: PTI)

Heavy rainfall is also likely in isolated places over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand, West Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, and the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.

STORMS AND WINDS TO ACCOMPANY RAINS

The weather agency has also warned of thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph over parts of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Jammu and Kashmir.

Karnataka and Telangana could witness stronger squalls with wind speeds of 50-60 kmph.

An uprooted tree lies on the road following heavy rain and strong winds. (Photo: PTI)

Meanwhile, squally weather is expected over adjoining seas, prompting fishermen to avoid venturing into parts of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal where strong winds and rough sea conditions are forecast.

WHY IS RAIN INTENSE AND SPREADING?

The ongoing wet spell is being driven by multiple weather systems working together.

According to the IMD, a depression over Jharkhand and adjoining Chhattisgarh is expected to move northwestwards, while the seasonal monsoon trough, an offshore trough along the west coast and a western disturbance are all enhancing rainfall activity across the country.

A satellite image of the weather system in the Indian subcontinent. (Photo: IMD)

These systems are helping sustain widespread monsoon showers over central, western and northern India even as the monsoon advances further into the northwest.

In other words, Tuesday is expected to be wet for more than one state.

- Ends