Rainfall will remain widespread over several regions | Today’s news
Rain activity is likely to remain widespread over several parts of the country during the next week, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting spells of rain accompanied by thundershowers and lightning over central, eastern, western and southern regions.
In Central India, West Madhya Pradesh is likely to experience isolated to scattered rainfall during September 18-23, while East Madhya Pradesh may experience similar activity during September 19-23. Vidarbha is expected to receive scattered rain from September 18 to 21.
Rain is expected to become relatively widespread to widespread over East Madhya Pradesh on September 18, Vidarbha on September 22-23 and Chhattisgarh on September 18-23.
East India is also likely to experience sustained rainfall. Fairly widespread to widespread rain is forecast over Andaman and Nicobar Islands during 18-23. September, in sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during 18–19 September and in Gangetic West Bengal during 18–20 September and again on September 23. Odisha is expected to experience widespread rainfall during September 21-23.
Northeast Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura are likely to experience moderate to widespread rainfall on September 19. Rainfall is expected to continue across the region in the coming days.
Western India is also expected to experience significant rainfall. Fairly widespread to widespread rains are forecast over Konkan and Goa during 20-23. September and over the Gujarat region during 18–19 September. Central Maharashtra is likely to experience widespread rains during September 21-22, while Marathawada could see similar activity on September 22.
Forecast for the south
In south Peninsular India, scattered rainfall is likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during September 18-23. Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep are expected to receive moderate to widespread rainfall from September 18 to 23. Coastal Karnataka and Telangana are likely to receive widespread rainfall during September 20-23.
The forecast suggests that rain activity will persist in more regions as the southwest monsoon enters its later phase, with repeated spells of rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning expected in several areas.
Meanwhile, India’s cumulative rainfall during the southwest monsoon season remained 15% below normal till September 17, with the country receiving 686.4 mm of rain against the normal 806.8 mm for the period since June 1, according to weather data.
During the 24 hours ending 08:30 IST on 17 September 2026, extremely heavy rainfall of 21 cm or more was recorded at isolated places over Sikkim. Very heavy rainfall of 12–20 cm was reported over Jammu and Kashmir, while heavy rainfall of 7–11 cm was recorded over Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Konkan, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Tripura, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu.
