India’s ongoing monsoon season is delivering sharply divergent weather patterns across the country, with intense rainfall triggering flood concerns in the east and northeast while persistent heat grips large parts of the north and central regions. Satellite observations have captured widespread lightning activity extending from the Himalayan foothills through eastern and central areas to the south, underscoring the unpredictable and volatile conditions affecting multiple states at once.
Heavy to very heavy rains are forecast to continue over the eastern Himalayas and northeastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. This activity raises the potential for flash floods, landslides, and disruptions to transportation in hilly and vulnerable districts. In North Bengal, districts such as Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar face prolonged heavy downpours, with warnings of waterlogging in low-lying zones, reduced visibility, crop damage, and landslide threats in the hills. A red alert has been issued for isolated extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm in parts of Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts on June 20.
Even within West Bengal, the monsoon presents contrasting scenarios. While northern areas experience strong activity, southern regions, including Kolkata, have seen limited rainfall since the season’s arrival earlier in June. Recent showers in the city provided some temporary relief from humid conditions, but broader relief may be gradual. Experts link this variation to the current position of the seasonal trough near the Himalayan foothills, which directs the bulk of moisture northward; a shift southward would typically bring more even distribution to coastal and peninsular areas. Increased rain is anticipated over South Bengal after June 20, though sustained heavy spells in Kolkata remain unlikely.
In contrast, Delhi and surrounding areas continue to endure high temperatures despite forecasts of thunderstorms and gusty winds. The national capital region is under a yellow alert for storms with winds of 40-50 kmph, yet daytime highs are expected to stay between 39 and 42 degrees Celsius, with high humidity intensifying discomfort. Similar heat persists across parts of Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, where heatwave conditions may linger until June 24. Thunderstorms offer little cooling effect in these regions.
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Thunderstorm activity poses a broader hazard across northwest and central India this weekend, with lightning, strong winds reaching 60-70 kmph (and gusts up to 80 kmph) expected in states including Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh. Eastern Rajasthan may see dust storms and thundersqualls, while isolated hail is possible in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, threatening agriculture and infrastructure.
Along the western coast, the monsoon has strengthened after a slow start, bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall to Konkan, Goa, coastal Karnataka, and Kerala. Alerts remain in place for several Kerala districts through at least June 24.
Overall, the monsoon is advancing steadily, though more slowly than usual, influenced by interactions between western disturbances, cyclonic systems, and the southwest monsoon flow. It has progressed across significant portions of Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Bihar, with further extension expected into additional areas in the coming days. For farmers gearing up for the kharif sowing season, the timing and distribution of these rains will play a crucial role in determining planting schedules and overall crop outcomes.
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