Bihar's monsoon has roared back to life, with the weather office issuing fresh warnings of intense rainfall across large parts of the state. The Meteorological Centre in Patna says heavy showers will continue over most areas for the next two days, and on Sunday, July 19, 2026, every district in the state is expected to see thunder, lightning and squally winds blowing at 30 to 40 kilometres per hour. Alongside this, a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall has been issued for a handful of districts, including Gaya and Nawada.
Tonight, July 18, still looks stormy
Even before Sunday's red alert kicks in, conditions are expected to turn severe tonight, July 18, in several parts of Bihar. The weather centre says Gaya, Nawada and West Champaran could see extremely heavy rain today, while Aurangabad, Bhabua (Kaimur), East Champaran, Gopalganj, Rohtas and Siwan are under a heavy rainfall warning. Lightning strikes and strong winds are also expected statewide today, prompting officials to urge residents to stay alert.
Four districts under red alert for July 19
Looking ahead to Sunday, the monsoon is expected to stay active across most of the state, but four districts face a particularly worrying outlook. The weather department has placed Gaya, Nawada, Begusarai and Jamui under a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall on July 19. Local administrations in these districts have been told to stay on high alert, and residents have been advised not to step outside unnecessarily while the bad weather persists.
Patna and eight other districts face heavy rain too
Beyond the red-alert zone, the state capital Patna and eight other districts are also bracing for heavy rainfall, with orange and yellow alerts in place. These districts are Patna, Nalanda, Jehanabad, Arwal, Buxar, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Sheikhpura and Kishanganj, where downpours could disrupt daily life. People in these areas have been advised to take necessary precautions.
Temperatures set to drop, offering relief from humidity
According to IMD Patna, active weather systems, including a cyclonic circulation and a monsoon trough, are expected to pull the state's maximum temperature down by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius over the next 24 hours. That means residents who have been battling humid, sticky heat should get some real relief starting tomorrow. After that initial drop, temperatures are expected to hold steady with no major change for the following 72 hours.
Officials urge caution against lightning strikes
Given the risk of lightning, the weather department has advised people to avoid standing in open fields, under trees or near electric poles during the storm period. Farmers, in particular, have been asked to stay away from their fields whenever the weather turns bad, to avoid any mishap. Overall, the next 48 hours are shaping up to be a highly sensitive weather window for Bihar, and both administrations and ordinary residents are being urged to remain fully alert.
