Sunday weather: Rain, lightning alert across 18 states

A rain and lightning alert covers 18 states on Sunday, September 20, according to a forecast summary.

The states include Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal.

Winds of up to 60 to 65 kmph are possible in vulnerable areas.

Hilly districts may see lightning, hail and landslide risk.

People are advised to avoid open fields and trees during thunderstorms.

Strong surface winds are very likely over parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while Tamil Nadu may see gusts of 40 to 50 kmph with isolated heavy rain.

Winds of up to 60 to 65 kmph are possible in vulnerable areas, according to a forecast summary.

Delhi-NCR is forecast to see rain and thunderstorms with winds of about 30 to 40 kmph, with a maximum temperature near 34 degrees Celsius and a minimum near 24 degrees Celsius.

Lucknow is expected to reach about 34 degrees Celsius with a minimum near 26 degrees, and rain in Uttar Pradesh may extend into September 21.

Patna is forecast to see a maximum of about 34 degrees Celsius and a minimum near 27 degrees Celsius, with widespread thunderstorms across Bihar.

Heavy rain in hilly areas may cause landslides and disrupt travel, and lightning and hail are possible in the hills.

The overall pattern is driven by an active southwest monsoon over central, eastern and southern India during the season’s withdrawal phase.

The weather department advises people to avoid open fields, trees and electric poles during thunderstorms and to check local bulletins before travelling.

The IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning for Sunday, September 20, for parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Telangana.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast for parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Gangetic West Bengal and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Rain clouds during the monsoon in Goa (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0