IMD Issues Red Alert for North Bengal as Heavy Rain Pummels Region

India is experiencing a week of contrasting weather, with widespread rainfall and thunderstorms affecting large parts of the country while heatwave conditions persist in some areas of north and central India. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), active monsoon conditions are driving unsettled weather across multiple regions.

Satellite imagery on Friday showed extensive lightning stretching from the Himalayan states to eastern, central and southern India. Lightning strikes were recorded over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds across large parts of northwest and central India in the coming days. The Western Himalayan region is likely to receive widespread rainfall, while eastern Rajasthan may witness dust storms and thundersqualls. Wind speeds in some areas could reach 60-70 kmph, with gusts touching 80 kmph on Friday.

Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh are also expected to see thunderstorms and strong winds through the weekend. Hailstorms are likely in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

In the Northeast, widespread rainfall is expected with isolated heavy to very heavy showers over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. Some areas may receive extremely heavy rainfall, increasing the risk of flooding, waterlogging and landslides, particularly in vulnerable and hilly locations.

North Bengal is experiencing intense rain on Friday, which is likely to continue for several days. The IMD has issued a Red alert for June 20, warning that parts of Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts could receive more than 20 cm of rainfall in isolated places. Orange alerts will remain in place for several districts between June 21 and 23, while North Dinajpur has been placed under a Yellow alert.

Thunderstorms with lightning and winds of 30–50 kmph are expected across much of the region. The department has warned of possible waterlogging in low-lying areas, landslides in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills, reduced visibility during heavy rain, and damage to standing crops.

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 27°C on Friday under partly cloudy skies. The IMD has issued a Yellow alert for the national capital, forecasting thunderstorms, lightning, light rainfall and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph during the afternoon and evening. The maximum temperature is expected to remain around 39°C, with strong surface winds throughout the day.

After a delay, the west coast is finally expected to receive monsoon rains. Heavy to very heavy rainfall has been forecast over Konkan and Goa, Coastal Karnataka and Kerala, while interior parts of peninsular India are also likely to get scattered to widespread showers. In Kerala, rain and thundershowers are expected to continue until June 24.