IMD issues enhanced rainfall forecast for East & Northeast India and Western Himalayas; extremely heavy rainfall alert for Odisha
India Meteorological Department warns of very heavy to extremely heavy rain over Odisha, East and Northeast India, and the Western Himalayas, while heat and humid conditions persist in parts of northwest and southern India.
- The India Meteorological Department issued an enhanced rainfall forecast for East India, Northeast India, East Uttar Pradesh, and the Western Himalayan Region for the next 7 days.
- The India Meteorological Department warned of isolated extremely heavy rainfall over Odisha on 16 July 2026.
- The India Meteorological Department said a well-marked low-pressure area lay over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Odisha–West Bengal coasts at 0830 hrs IST on 16 July 2026.
- The India Meteorological Department advised fishermen not to venture into specified areas of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Andaman Sea during the warned period.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a weather warning for enhanced rainfall over East and Northeast India, East Uttar Pradesh, and the Western Himalayan Region for the next 7 days. The India Meteorological Department has also warned of isolated extremely heavy rainfall over Odisha on 16 July 2026, making the forecast directly relevant for flood risk, urban drainage, and disaster preparedness.
The warning is linked to a well-marked low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Odisha–West Bengal coasts. The India Meteorological Department said the system lay over the area at 0830 hrs IST on 16 July 2026 and is very likely to move northwestwards across North Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal during the next 2 days.
The India Meteorological Department also said a fresh Western Disturbance is likely to affect Northwest India from 19 July 2026. This matters because monsoon rainfall in India is often shaped by interactions between Bay of Bengal systems, Western Disturbances, and regional circulation patterns.
UPSC may use the India Meteorological Department's forecast to test the geography of monsoon systems, the role of low-pressure areas and Western Disturbances, and the use of early warnings for disaster preparedness. The same development also supports mains answers on flood risk, heat stress, coastal safety, and the need for district-level response planning.
