The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi on August 15, 17, and 18. The department expects fairly widespread to widespread showers in these areas on those dates, while other days this week are likely to bring isolated or scattered rain. The alert comes as monsoon activity in Punjab and Haryana continues to lag, with both states recording weaker-than-usual rainfall in recent days.
The forecast follows unsettled weather in the capital region: heavy rain was reported across parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region during the early hours of August 14. The India Meteorological Department’s forecast for Delhi included “thunderstorm with rain,” with a projected high of 34°C and low of 25°C, information from ANI’s report that day. The IMD bulletin also forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of the western Himalayan region, alongside impressive precipitation across the northwest Indian plains during much of the week. In Punjab and Haryana, but, the preceding 24 hours brought only light to moderate rain, with isolated thunderstorms and lightning. Temperatures remained above seasonal norms.
August rainfall figures show a marked contrast between the neighboring states. Punjab had a 42 percent monsoon deficit for the month to date, while Haryana had received 30 percent more rainfall than normal. For the monsoon season from June 1, both states remained below their long-period averages: Punjab by 34 percent and Haryana by 16 percent. These local and season-to-date figures cover different periods and underline the uneven distribution of rainfall across the region.
A later IMD assessment placed the episode within a broader national revival: all-India rainfall for August 2025 totaled 268.1 mm, the seventh-highest August total since 2001 and 45th since 1901. The department said the monsoon strengthened rapidly from August 14, with four low-pressure systems forming during the month and influencing weather for a combined 15 days. The national total is an aggregate, so it does not mean every state received above-normal rainfall. It can coexist with the deficits reported in Punjab and Haryana.
The IMD extended its forecast to Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Uttarakhand, predicting fairly widespread to widespread rainfall in these Himalayan states through August 20. Heavy rain was expected at several locations, with the potential for localized flooding and disruption. Northern India’s weather alerts echo recent warnings in Spain, where authorities have also issued alerts for severe storms and hail in northern and eastern regions.
The IMD’s color-coded alert system is intended to help local authorities and residents prepare for adverse weather. A yellow alert calls for vigilance and readiness for possible disruption; it is not the department’s highest warning level. The forecasts matter across northern India, where monsoon rainfall affects agriculture, water supplies, and daily life. The contrast between state-level totals also shows why national rainfall figures do not capture conditions in every locality.
