More than 150 killed in flooding across northern India as monsoon withdrawal finally set to begin
By
Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Sep 30, 2019 2:35 PM EDT
Weather Forecast overview for Asia
Severe flooding continued to inundate northern India in recent days with numerous fatalities being reported in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Following several days of heavy rainfall, the number of fatalities rose above 150 between the two states with Uttar Pradesh reporting 111 and Bihar 40 as of Tuesday, according to Aljazeera and India Today.
The same monsoon low that struck Uttar Pradesh produced flash flooding in Pune earlier last week. That round of flooding killed at least 22 people with 4 others still missing, according to the Hindustan Times.
Officials say rail traffic, health services, schools and power supply have been disrupted in both states, according to the BBC.
People are rescued in a tractor from a flooded area following heavy rainfall in Patna, India, Monday, Sept.30, 2019. (AP Photo/Aftab Alam Siddiqui)
Downpours will continue across northern India into this weekend, but are expected to be more localized with less flooding compared to last week.
A monsoon low sparked locally heavy rainfall across eastern Gujarat, southeast Rajasthan and far western Madhya Pradesh into early Tuesday.
These downpours then advanced eastward into central Madhya Pradesh during the day on Tuesday.
Rainfall across the region averaged 25-75 mm (1-3 inches) with locally higher amounts in the hardest-hit locations.
Eastern Madhya Pradesh and northern Chhattisgarh will then be at risk for localized flooding into Wednesday.
Farther east, daily showers and thunderstorms will heighten the risk for flooding and travel disruptions from Odisha and Jharkhand into Northeast India.
A few of these downpours may renew flooding across Bihar where some communities remain underwater following more than 300 mm (12 inches) of rainfall in recent days.
Daily showers and thunderstorms will also be scattered across southern India, with localized flooding possible in Kerala, western Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Largely dry weather is expected in Chennai this week where a prolonged drought and water shortage continues.
India's southwest monsoon typically begins to withdraw in early September. However, it is already a month behind schedule and has reached historic levels.
The countrywide monsoon brought 110 percent of normal rainfall through the end of September and is not expected to begin its withdrawal until next week.
This will mark the latest withdrawal in recent history with the previous record being Oct. 1, 1961, according to the India Meteorological Department.
The extra month of downpours has caused significant flooding across northern India and also damaged agriculture.
Signs are pointing to changes in the weather starting late this week and continuing into next week. A push of dry air from the Middle East combined with winds shifting to the north may finally allow the monsoon to begin its withdrawal from northwest India.
Report a Typo
News / Weather News
More than 150 killed in flooding across northern India as monsoon withdrawal finally set to begin
By Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Sep 30, 2019 2:35 PM EDT
Weather Forecast overview for Asia
Severe flooding continued to inundate northern India in recent days with numerous fatalities being reported in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Following several days of heavy rainfall, the number of fatalities rose above 150 between the two states with Uttar Pradesh reporting 111 and Bihar 40 as of Tuesday, according to Aljazeera and India Today.
The same monsoon low that struck Uttar Pradesh produced flash flooding in Pune earlier last week. That round of flooding killed at least 22 people with 4 others still missing, according to the Hindustan Times.
Officials say rail traffic, health services, schools and power supply have been disrupted in both states, according to the BBC.
People are rescued in a tractor from a flooded area following heavy rainfall in Patna, India, Monday, Sept.30, 2019. (AP Photo/Aftab Alam Siddiqui)
Downpours will continue across northern India into this weekend, but are expected to be more localized with less flooding compared to last week.
A monsoon low sparked locally heavy rainfall across eastern Gujarat, southeast Rajasthan and far western Madhya Pradesh into early Tuesday.
These downpours then advanced eastward into central Madhya Pradesh during the day on Tuesday.
Rainfall across the region averaged 25-75 mm (1-3 inches) with locally higher amounts in the hardest-hit locations.
Eastern Madhya Pradesh and northern Chhattisgarh will then be at risk for localized flooding into Wednesday.
Farther east, daily showers and thunderstorms will heighten the risk for flooding and travel disruptions from Odisha and Jharkhand into Northeast India.
A few of these downpours may renew flooding across Bihar where some communities remain underwater following more than 300 mm (12 inches) of rainfall in recent days.
Daily showers and thunderstorms will also be scattered across southern India, with localized flooding possible in Kerala, western Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Largely dry weather is expected in Chennai this week where a prolonged drought and water shortage continues.
Related:
India's southwest monsoon typically begins to withdraw in early September. However, it is already a month behind schedule and has reached historic levels.
The countrywide monsoon brought 110 percent of normal rainfall through the end of September and is not expected to begin its withdrawal until next week.
This will mark the latest withdrawal in recent history with the previous record being Oct. 1, 1961, according to the India Meteorological Department.
The extra month of downpours has caused significant flooding across northern India and also damaged agriculture.
Signs are pointing to changes in the weather starting late this week and continuing into next week. A push of dry air from the Middle East combined with winds shifting to the north may finally allow the monsoon to begin its withdrawal from northwest India.
Report a Typo