India: Adverse weather forecast across much of the country through at least July 24

Severe weather is forecast across much of India through at least July 24. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued press releases July 20 warning of thunderstorms, lightning, heavy rain, and strong winds across central, eastern, northern, and western India. Active weather systems are expected to bring widespread rainfall accompanied by storms across much of the country over the coming days, with isolated heavy rainfall in places. Heavy downpours may lead to flooding in low-lying areas and landslides on unstable slopes.

The IMD has issued the following severe weather warnings across much of the country through July 24:

July 20

• Red thunderstorm, heavy rain, and lightning warnings (the highest level on a three-tier scale): Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra, Konkan, Goa, Gujarat, Saurashtra, and Kutch.

• Red strong wind warnings: Saurashtra, Kutch, Konkan, and Goa.

• Orange thunderstorm, heavy rain, and lightning warnings: Odisha, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Marathwada, coastal and southern interior Karnataka.

• Orange strong wind warnings: Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, coastal Karnataka.

• Yellow heavy rain warnings: Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Rayalaseema, northern interior Karnataka, and eastern Rajasthan.

• Yellow thunderstorm and lightning warnings: Across the rest of the country not under orange thunderstorm warnings, with the exception of far northern areas.

July 21

• Red thunderstorm, heavy rain, and lightning warnings (the highest level on a three-tier scale): Gujarat, Saurashtra, Kutch, and Uttarakhand.

• Red strong wind warnings: Saurashtra and Kutch.

• Orange thunderstorm, heavy rain, and lightning warnings: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya.

• Orange strong wind warnings: Konkan, Goa, and coastal Karnataka.

• Yellow heavy rain warnings: Kerala, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, southern and northern interior Karnataka, Telangana, Marathwada, Odisha, eastern Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.

• Yellow thunderstorm and lightning warnings: Across the rest of the country not under orange thunderstorm warnings, with the exception of far northern areas.

July 22

• Red thunderstorm, heavy rain, and lightning warnings (the highest level on a three-tier scale): Gujarat, Saurashtra, Kutch, and western Uttar Pradesh.

• Red strong wind warnings: Saurashtra and Kutch.

• Orange thunderstorm, heavy rain, and lightning warnings: Eastern and western Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra, Konkan, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, and western Uttar Pradesh.

• Orange strong wind warnings: Konkan and Goa.

• Yellow heavy rain warnings: Coastal and southern interior Karnataka, and the rest of the eastern and western regions not under orange heavy rain warnings, with the exception of far northern and southern areas.

• Yellow thunderstorm and lightning warnings: Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, eastern and western Rajasthan.

July 23

• Orange thunderstorm, heavy rain, and lightning warnings: Eastern and western Madhya Pradesh, eastern Rajasthan, Madhya Maharashtra, Konkan, Goa, Gujarat, Saurashtra, and Kutch.

• Orange strong wind warnings: Konkan, Goa, Saurashtra, and Kutch.

• Yellow heavy rain warnings:The rest of the eastern and western regions not under orange heavy rain warnings, with the exception of far northern and southern areas.

• Yellow thunderstorm and lightning warnings: Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, Bihar, and western Rajasthan.

July 24

• Orange thunderstorm, heavy rain, and lightning warnings: Western Madhya Pradesh, eastern Rajasthan, Madhya Maharashtra, Konkan, Goa, Gujarat, Saurashtra, and Kutch.

• Orange strong wind warnings: Konkan, Goa, Saurashtra, and Kutch.

• Yellow heavy rain warnings: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, eastern Madhya Pradesh, eastern and western Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and western Rajasthan.

• Yellow thunderstorm and lightning warnings: Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, Bihar, eastern Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and western Rajasthan.

Officials could update and extend the coverage of weather alerts over the coming days.

Sustained heavy rainfall could trigger flooding in low-lying communities near rivers, streams, and creeks. Urban flooding is also possible in developed areas with easily overwhelmed stormwater drainage systems. Sites downstream from large reservoirs or rivers may be subject to flash flooding after relatively short periods of intense rainfall. Landslides are possible in hilly or mountainous areas, especially where heavy rain has saturated the soil.

Authorities could issue mandatory evacuation orders for flood-prone communities over the coming days. Disruptions to electricity and telecommunications services are possible where significant flooding or landslides impact utility networks.

Floodwaters and debris flows may render some bridges, rail networks, or roadways impassable, impacting overland travel in and around affected areas. Ponding on road surfaces could cause hazardous driving conditions on regional highways. Authorities could temporarily close some low-lying routes that become inundated by floodwaters. Severe weather could also trigger flight delays and cancellations at regional airports.

Localized business disruptions may occur in low-lying areas; some businesses might not operate at full capacity because of flood damage to facilities, possible evacuations, and some employees' inability to reach work sites.

Flooding could heighten the threat of disease outbreaks. Backflow from drains mixed with floodwaters can become trapped in open areas when inundations recede. These stagnant pools often become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and bacteria, increasing the incidence of insect- and water-borne diseases. Exposure to contaminated water from inundated industrial sites, sewer systems, and septic tanks also poses a significant health threat.