Monsoon rains have picked up sharp intensity across large parts of the country, and the weather office has issued a stern warning for the coming days. A low pressure area building over the Bay of Bengal keeps growing stronger, driving heavy rain and squalls across the plains while raising landslide fears in the hill states. Dark clouds over north India have brought welcome relief from the heat, but the weather is set to turn sharply in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Maharashtra, among other states. The India Meteorological Department has appealed to farmers, travellers and fishermen not to take these warnings lightly.
The system brewing over the Bay of Bengal keeps gaining strength
According to the weather department, the low pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal is steadily intensifying. Its effect is expected to speed up monsoon activity across central, eastern and northern India in the coming days. Separately, an upper air cyclonic circulation is active over west Rajasthan, which could add further intensity to the rain. Weather agency Skymet says heavy rain will continue across several parts of south India as well in the coming days. Persistent rain in the hill states has raised fears of landslides, road closures and rising river levels, a combination that has repeatedly disrupted mountain travel this season. The IMD has issued a warning for July 4 covering heavy rain in several states, gusty winds of up to 90 kilometres per hour, and hailstorms in some areas. Continuous rain in Uttarakhand has also become a growing worry for local authorities.
Heat relief in the plains, but the risk of damage is rising too
The monsoon is now fully active across most of the country. In north India, clouds continue to hover over Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, with the sky staying overcast for extended stretches. In the east, rain is intensifying over Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The southwest monsoon has pushed temperatures down, giving people significant relief from scorching heat and heatwave conditions. However, the same spell of rain is raising the risk of waterlogging in cities and crop damage in rural areas, a worry for both commuters and farmers at once. In Punjab and Haryana, the entire mood of the weather has changed since the monsoon became active.
Rough seas ahead, fishermen advised to stay away from the water
Conditions at sea are far from normal too. The weather system active over the Bay of Bengal could whip up high waves. The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea for the next few days. Strong winds may also cause trees to fall and disrupt power supply in coastal areas. Tourists heading to the hill states have been advised to travel only after checking the latest weather updates, rather than setting out on a fixed schedule regardless of conditions.
Delhi-NCR to get storms and rain, bringing relief from the heat
Delhi-NCR has an alert for heavy rain and strong thunderstorms on July 4. The weather department says winds could blow at 60 to 70 kilometres per hour. Many areas will see thunder and lightning along with rain, pulling temperatures down. The maximum temperature is expected to be around 36 degrees Celsius and the minimum around 30 degrees Celsius. Strong winds could still cause trees to fall and disrupt traffic across the capital region.
Uttar Pradesh faces storm winds of up to 90 kilometres per hour
The monsoon could show its most aggressive face in Uttar Pradesh. Districts including Meerut, Ghaziabad, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Agra, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Deoria are under alert for heavy rain and winds of 80 to 90 kilometres per hour. There is also a risk of lightning and waterlogging in these areas. Lucknow could see a maximum temperature of up to 37 degrees Celsius, though the weather is expected to turn pleasant once the rain passes through.
Bihar told to watch out for both rain and lightning
Western and northern districts of Bihar are expected to receive heavy rain over the next three days. Districts including Patna, Gaya, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Purnia, Kishanganj, Katihar and Bhagalpur will see rain accompanied by strong winds. The IMD has also warned of winds up to 80 kilometres per hour and lightning strikes. Farmers and people working in open fields have been advised to take special precautions during this period.
Jharkhand faces a double blow of strong winds and heavy downpours
The monsoon is fully active in Jharkhand. Districts including Ranchi, Bokaro, Dumka, Sahibganj, Giridih, Deoghar, Jamshedpur and Hazaribagh are forecast to receive heavy rain. Winds could touch 90 kilometres per hour in some places. The weather department has appealed to people to stay alert given the risk of waterlogging in low-lying areas and lightning strikes over the next few days.
West Bengal set to feel the Bay of Bengal system the most
The low pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal is expected to have its biggest impact on West Bengal. Districts including Kolkata, Howrah, Murshidabad, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, Malda and Birbhum are under alert for heavy rain. Winds could blow at 70 to 80 kilometres per hour. People living in coastal areas and fishermen have been advised to exercise special caution through this spell.
Rajasthan sees the monsoon tighten its grip
The monsoon is gradually strengthening its hold across Rajasthan. The weather department has issued an alert for rising rain activity in districts including Jaipur, Bharatpur, Ajmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Pali, Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Karauli, as the system moves further into the state.
