New Delhi: India is set to receive above-normal rainfall in September, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday, warning that the downpours could trigger flash floods, landslides, and severe disruption in several states.

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra cautioned that Uttarakhand, south Haryana, Delhi, and north Rajasthan may face dangerous flooding due to heavy rains. “Many rivers originate in Uttarakhand. So, heavy rainfall means many rivers will be flooded and it will impact cities and towns downstream,” Mohapatra said in an online press briefing.

He added that the upper catchment areas of the Mahanadi river in Chhattisgarh are also expected to witness intense rainfall, raising the risk of flooding.

The IMD forecast indicates that while most regions will see normal to above-normal rain, parts of the northeast, east India, the extreme south peninsula, and pockets of northwest India could record below-normal rainfall.

Trend of Rising September Rainfall

Mohapatra highlighted that September rainfall has shown a slight increasing trend since 1980, with delayed monsoon withdrawal pushing the start date in Rajasthan from September 1 to September 17. “With withdrawal delayed, monsoon interactions with western disturbances increase, which explains the rising rainfall in September,” he explained.

Monsoon Season So Far

India has already received 743.1 mm of rainfall between June 1 and August 31 — 6% above normal. Northwest India recorded 265 mm in August, the highest since 2001.

South Peninsular India logged 250.6 mm in August, about 31% above normal, making it one of the wettest in over two decades.

The IMD attributed this surge to unusual interactions between Bay of Bengal low-pressure systems and western disturbances, which triggered devastating floods in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and parts of Rajasthan.

 

Warning for September

  1. Flash floods and landslides are likely in Uttarakhand and western Himalayan states.
  2. Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan may see urban flooding and traffic disruptions.
  3. Chhattisgarh’s Mahanadi basin faces potential flooding.
  4. The IMD has urged states and disaster management authorities to remain on high alert for extreme weather events in September.