DEHRADUN: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of a fresh spell of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across the hill states of north India, triggered by the interaction of the monsoon trough with an active western disturbance.
According to the IMD, the system is expected to intensify rainfall activity over Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, increasing the risk of flash floods, landslides, and rising river levels. The bulletin forecast “extremely heavy rainfall” at isolated locations in Uttarakhand on September 1, Himachal Pradesh between August 31 and September 2, and Jammu on September 2. Overall, northwest India is likely to witness a prolonged wet spell for the next three to four days.
IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said three such “two-system interactions” had already occurred in August, triggering severe weather incidents in Dharali (Uttarakhand), Kishtwar (J&K), Jammu, and Mandi (Himachal Pradesh).
Rohit Thapliyal, senior scientist at the regional meteorological centre in Dehradun, said, “The interaction will cause intense showers in parts of Uttarakhand over the next 48 hours. We have upgraded the weather alert to ‘red’ in Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Haridwar, Nainital, Champawat, Bageshwar, and Udham Singh Nagar districts.”
Currently, the monsoon trough is positioned south of its normal line, while a western disturbance in the form of a cyclonic circulation is hovering over north Pakistan and adjoining Punjab. Additional circulations over Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are pulling in moisture from both the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal into the Himalayan foothills. This overlap, officials said, intensifies wind shifts and moisture build-up, leading to widespread heavy rain.
Northwest India has already recorded 265 mm of rainfall in August—the highest for the month since 2001 and the 13th highest since 1901. The region has experienced above-normal rainfall in all three months of the monsoon so far, with the trend expected to continue in September.
“Many rivers originate in Uttarakhand. Heavy rainfall means flooding, and the effects will be felt downstream in cities and towns,” Mohapatra cautioned.
In the past 24 hours, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh reported very heavy rainfall at multiple locations, while Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and parts of Uttar Pradesh also witnessed downpours. With the hills already vulnerable due to earlier rain-induced damage, authorities fear fresh downpours could worsen conditions in landslide-prone areas. The IMD has advised state governments to stay on high alert for flash floods, road blockages, and disruptions to tourist and pilgrimage routes.
