Key points
- Red alert for extremely heavy rain and flash flood risk in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand; severe weather also flagged for UP and MP in IMD’s latest advisories.
- Delhi-NCR under orange alert; heavy rain caused day-long jams and waterlogging, with more showers likely and local authorities advising work-from-home and school closures in some NCR cities.
- Bihar under yellow alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and 30–40 km/h winds in several districts; IMD’s state page shows thunderstorm/lightning advisory for today.
- Weather volatility expected to persist till around September 5 in the northern belt, per IMD bulletins and city forecasts for Delhi.
New Delhi: IMD has issued fresh alerts for very heavy rain across North India today, with a red alert in parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, while Delhi-NCR remains under an orange alert with continued showers likely through September 5, disrupting traffic, flights, and raising Yamuna levels near danger marks.
Delhi-NCR: more rain, urban flooding risks
Following heavy, all-day rainfall, Delhi and neighboring NCR cities face continued showers with an orange alert in effect; Gurugram recorded over 100 mm in a few hours and advised work-from-home and online classes for September 2, while airlines cautioned of delays and cancellations due to poor visibility and waterlogging at airports. IMD’s Delhi bulletin indicates generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rain today and intermittent light rain through September 5, keeping waterlogging and traffic disruption risks elevated across low-lying corridors. Live updates indicate rising Yamuna levels and selective movement restrictions near bridges and ghats as a precaution amid sustained inflows from Hathnikund barrage.
Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh: heavy rain alerts
Fresh IMD guidance highlights red alerts in parts of UP and MP, warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, localized flooding, and possible disruption to road and rail movement through the first half of the week. Authorities are monitoring urban flood hotspots and river catchments as widespread showers continue, with district administrations alerting residents to avoid underpasses and waterlogged stretches.
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand: landslide and cloudburst risk
The hill states are under the highest caution, with IMD flagging extremely heavy rain at isolated places today and a red alert that raises the risk of landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts in vulnerable districts; travel to interior hilly roads is discouraged and tourists advised to stay put in safe areas. Orange watches extend to adjacent northern states, reflecting a broader orographic rainfall pulse that heightens hazard exposure along river valleys and steep slopes.
Bihar: yellow alert and lightning risk
IMD’s subdivision page for Bihar shows a day-1 advisory for thunderstorms and lightning today, with localized squalls possible, while regional updates point to yellow alerts in multiple districts and wind gusts in the 30–40 km/h range. Local media and Met Centre notes highlight brief, scattered rains in districts such as Munger, Araria, and Kishanganj, and caution against open-field exposure during thunderstorm windows.
Outlook till September 5
Tourism and travel advisories from national dailies and IMD-linked updates suggest northern India will see intermittent heavy spells through around September 5, with hills under red/orange alerts and the plains, including Delhi-NCR, often cloudy with light to moderate rain and some heavy bursts. The Delhi forecast bulletin specifically points to light rain or thundershowers on September 2 with the potential for moderate spells, tapering to light, scattered showers through September 5, which could still keep drainage systems under stress during peak hours.
Safety tips and disruptions
- Avoid underpasses, low-lying stretches, and riverbanks; follow local DDMA and traffic police advisories in NCR and district alerts in UP/MP.
- In hill states, defer non-essential travel on interior routes and watch for landslide/flash flood alerts; check real-time IMD and state disaster dashboards.
- Expect flight delays; airlines have issued advisories urging status checks before departure and allowing buffer time for airport travel amid waterlogging.
