The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather alert predicting heavy rainfall across various regions of the country. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim,and parts of northeast India throughout the week, with the potential for extremely heavy rainfall in these areas until June 21, 2026.
Heat wave conditions are likely to persist in isolated pockets of Konkan and Goa,as well as Madhya Maharashtra on June 20, with warnings extending to east Uttar Pradesh and Vidarbha until June 25. Similar conditions are expected in Bihar and Telangana until June 21. The IMD's latest bulletin indicates that the upper air circulation and trough area will lead to heavy rain in over ten districts around the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu starting June 21.
Delhi experienced a maximum temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius on June 20, which is 1.6 degrees above normal. city is facing hot and humid weather,with a delay in arrival of the southwest monsoon. Light rain and thunderstorms are anticipated in isolated parts of the capital during night . For June 21,the IMD forecasts a generally cloudy sky with thunderstorms and rain, predicting maximum and minimum temperatures around 39 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius,respectively.
In a broader context, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed the formation of an El Niño in the equatorial Pacific, estimating 63% chance it will evolve into a “very strong” event by winter. This development raises concerns about potential impact on India's monsoon,particularly as June rainfall has been approximately 35% below normal as of June 16.
The IMD also reported favorable conditions for the southwest monsoon to advance into additional areas of Maharashtra,Telangana,Odisha, Jharkhand,and Bihar around June 23 . Heavy rainfall is forecasted for Arunachal Pradesh,Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram,Tripura, and parts of Odisha,along with thunderstorms in Rajasthan, Gujarat,and Chhattisgarh.
West Bengal's Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari,reported significant damage in North Bengal due to heavy rainfall,including the washing away of the Dudhiya Bridge . He noted that heavy rains have affected Siliguri and Darjeeling, leading to landslides and a flood-like situation. The Chief Minister stated that it would take 4-5 days to restore connectivity, as the state government has approved necessary financial and administrative measures for immediate restoration efforts.
In Tamil Nadu,Kalasapakkam recorded the highest rainfall of 9 cm in the last 24 hours,while Kakkudi received 8 cm. Fishermen have been warned of squally winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 km/h along the Tamil Nadu coast and adjacent areas . Meanwhile,Chennai is expected to see some relief from the heat with light to moderate evening showers.
In National Capital,the minimum temperature rose slightly to 28.7 degrees Celsius,1.7 degrees higher than the previous day. Other weather stations reported similar increases. The IMD forecasted light rain and gusty winds for the day, with partly cloudy skies expected to persist.
In a related initiative, schools in Cyberabad may soon adopt online classes once a week during the monsoon season to alleviate traffic congestion and facilitate civic work. Police Commissioner M. Ramesh plans to meet with school managements to discuss this proposal,which could see students attending eight days of online classes over two months.
