Bay of Bengal depression likely to intensify, hit Andhra-Odisha coast

A depression in the west-central Bay of Bengal is expected to strengthen into a deep depression and make landfall along the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts between September 23 and 24, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Odisha is anticipated to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall, while coastal Andhra Pradesh may see heavy rainfall on September 23.

Chhattisgarh and Telangana are forecast to face intense rainfall from September 23 to 24. The weather system arrives as the southwest monsoon begins its annual retreat from northwest India. The monsoon season has thus far delivered 703.7 mm of cumulative rainfall from June 1 to September 21, which is 15% below the normal of 827.2 mm.

Central India is expected to witness widespread rain, thunderstorms, and lightning over east Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha during September 23-27, and Chhattisgarh during September 23-28. West Madhya Pradesh may encounter isolated to scattered rain during the same period. In eastern India, Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal are likely to receive widespread rain from September 23-26, Jharkhand from September 23-27, and Bihar from September 24-27. Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim may also receive widespread rain from September 23-27.

In the northwest, Uttar Pradesh may experience widespread rain and thunderstorms from September 25-27, while Uttarakhand could face similar conditions from September 26-28. Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Muzaffarabad may see widespread rain on September 28. In the northeast, Assam and Meghalaya are expected to receive widespread rain on September 23, while Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura may witness isolated to scattered rain from September 23-28.

In the west, Konkan & Goa and Marathwada regions of India may receive widespread rain on September 23, while Gujarat may see isolated to scattered rain during the same period.