This September is likely to see heavy rainfall that could lead to flash floods and landslides in many parts of the country, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The rainfall in this September could be more than 109 per cent, according to IMD. September rainfall has seen a slight rising trend since 1980 with the exceptions being 1986, 1991, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2015 and 2019.
Most parts of India are predicted to witness normal to above-normal rainfall. IMD director general Mrutyunjay Mohapatra during a press conference warned that landslides and flashfloods might occur in Uttarakhand where many rivers originate while downstream cities in Delhi, northern Rajasthan and southern Haryana are also likely to be majorly impacted.
"September is a transitional month when the season moves towards the post-monsoon phase. With the withdrawal delayed, the chances of interaction between the monsoon and western disturbances rise,” said the IMD chief. He explained that the frequency of these disturbances increases as winter approaches and as a result, September rainfall is showing an increasing trend.
Heavy rainfall will also hit the upper catchment areas of Mahanadi river in Chhattisgarh, he added.
The IMD has predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms in Delhi for Monday. In Punjab, heavy showers are expected at isolated places on Monday and light to moderate rains till Tuesday. Schools will be closed due rain and flooding till September 3.
In Jammu and Kashmir's Jammu division, schools will remain closed on September 1 due to adverse weather forecast. Generally cloudy weather with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms are expected on September 2 while a brief spell of rain and thunderstorms are predicted from September 3 to 8.
Temperature to stay normal to below normal in these areas
IMD also forecast that the maximum temperatures in west-central, northwest and sounth India might stay normal to below normal while it could go above normal in east-central, east, northeast and northwest India as well as the western coast.
The prediction for September comes as several states witnessed extreme rainfall in the past few months. Cloudbursts and flash floods have led to landslides in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir while Punjab suffered its worst floods in several years.
From June 1 to August 31, India received 743.1 mm rainfall, which is 6 per cent higher than the average.