Weather on August 24: Rain and Thunderstorms Across India
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rain across several parts of India on Monday, August 24, with the monsoon remaining active over large swathes of the country. The national capital region is expected to see light rain and thundershowers, while states like Uttarakhand, Odisha and Telangana are under heavier rainfall warnings.
Delhi-NCR Forecast
Delhi-NCR is likely to remain mostly cloudy with intermittent showers during the day. According to a report from The Economic Times, Delhi, New Delhi, Noida and Gurugram may see short spells of rain as monsoon activity continues over the region. The IMD's weather outlook for Delhi indicates partly cloudy conditions and isolated thunderstorms, with residents advised to be prepared for sudden weather changes, particularly while commuting.
More detailed forecasts from the Hindustan Times suggest that the capital will receive multiple spells of rain on Monday, but the weather is expected to turn largely dry from Tuesday onward. The IMD's district-wise nowcast map, issued at 11:10 am, placed East Delhi under a red warning for heavy rain exceeding 15mm per hour, along with thunderstorms and lightning. The warning, valid until 2:10 pm, also includes winds of 30-40 km/h. Large parts of eastern and southern Delhi are under red warning, while western and central Delhi are under an orange alert.
NewsBytes, in its coverage, reported that heavy rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely at isolated places in several Delhi districts, including South East Delhi, East Delhi, Shahdara, Central Delhi, North East Delhi, South Delhi and New Delhi. Moderate rain is expected in parts of Central and West Delhi. The IMD's advisory also warned of scattered heavy rains over the next two hours in Ghaziabad, East Delhi, Noida and Gurugram, among other areas.
For the longer term, the Hindustan Times reported the IMD's forecast for the rest of the week: for Tuesday, only the “possibility of” very light rain in the afternoon; Wednesday spells of very light to light rain before noon, with another spell from afternoon to evening and moderate rain at isolated places; and from Thursday to Sunday, no rain is expected, with partly cloudy skies.
Rainfall Data and Weather Pattern
Delhi recorded light rainfall in the 24 hours ending 8:30 am on Monday, as per NewsBytes. Safdarjung received 3.4mm, Palam 10.6mm, and Lodhi Road 2.7mm during this period. The weather outcome is expected to remain hot and humid after showers subside, the report added.The IMD categorises rainfall: up to 15.5mm is light, 15.6-64.4mm moderate, 64.5-115.5mm heavy, and 115.6-204.4mm very heavy, the Hindustan Times noted.
Delhi's total rainfall in August so far is 246.3mm, about 13mm above the long-period average of 233.1mm for the month, according to the same report. Last year, Delhi recorded 400.81mm of precipitation between August 1 and 31.
Meteorologists quoted by the Hindustan Times attributed the current weather pattern to the monsoon axis fluctuating at the Himalaya foothills. Amateur meteorologist Navdeep Dahiya said the system is still travelling slightly southwards during nights, causing some weekend night rain, but from Tuesday onward, Delhi's weather is likely to be completely dry as the axis moves fully to the foothills. Private weather forecaster Ashwary Tiwari warned on X of scattered heavy rains with loud lightning strikes and gusty winds up to 25 km/h in parts of Ghaziabad, East Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Delhi and South Delhi during the next two hours.
Heavy Rain in Uttarakhand, Odisha and Telangana
The IMD has predicted heavy rain in parts of these states on Monday, according to multiple reports. The Economic Times cited Odisha as facing a heavy rainfall threat, with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds. The low-pressure system over the northwest Bay of Bengal is contributing increased rainfall over Odisha and neighbouring regions, it said. Uttarakhand is forecast to have heavy rain at isolated places, along with thunderstorms and lightning, while Telangana is expected to receive heavy rain at some places with similar conditions.The Times of India gave a more detailed state-wise forecast. It reported isolated very heavy rainfall in parts of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Uttarakhand. For Madhya Pradesh, the IMD predicted very heavy rain in Dindori, Balaghat, Narmadapuram, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Mandla, Damoh and Sagar, with other districts in the Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Chambal, Rewa, Shahdol and Jabalpur divisions also recording heavy rain. In Kerala, rain alerts will remain in place in three districts on Tuesday during the Onam festival period. Odisha is expected to see heavy rain in several districts until August 26. Uttarakhand's heavy rain forecast extends until August 28.
Other Regions and Outlook
Islam The Economic Times forecast noted that heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places across the Northeast, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and other areas. Squally weather with winds of 40-50 km/h gusting up to 60 km/h is expected over Bay of Bengal and West Bengal, Odisha and North Andhra Pradesh coasts.The Times of India also indicated a fairly widespread rainfall over Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim until August 28, with Jharkhand and Bihar also likely to see widespread rain. The IMD has warned of thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds up to 60 kmph in Jammu and Kashmir over the next five days, with concern over flash floods, landslides and mudslides in vulnerable hilly areas. The forecasts suggest rain and thunderstorm activity will continue across several parts of the states on August 25.