Northern, western India brace for flooding as monsoon low ramps up this week
Downpours are set to spread over much of north-central and western India this week as another monsoon low tracks across the country.
This monsoon low will provide an extra punch as it absorbed moisture from former Tropical Storm Podul as it spun over the Bay of Bengal this weekend. A slow westward track will bring the monsoon low near the coast of northeastern Andhra Pradesh and Odisha by Tuesday.
Downpours will inundate locations from northeastern Andhra Pradesh, Odisha to Chhattisgarh and eastern parts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh into Tuesday before slowly expanding west-northwest as the week progresses.
By midweek, downpours will stretch from northern Chhattisgarh into western Madhya Pradesh, eastern Gujarat and southeastern Rajasthan.
Downpours will continue in similar areas into Friday with a weekly rainfall total of 75-150 mm (3-6 inches) from eastern Gujarat to coastal Odisha. An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 300 mm (12 inches) is possible.
These daily downpours will bring the risk of localized flooding and travel disruptions. There will also be a risk of mudslides in areas of rugged terrain. Aside from the risk of flooding, thunderstorms will also produce frequent lightning that will endanger anyone caught outdoors.
While the monsoon low tracks across north-central India, a surge of moisture from the Arabian Sea will enhance rainfall along India's western coastline.
Locations from western Maharashtra southward to northern Kerala will be at greatest risk for flooding downpours next week.
Travel may be disrupted in Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Panaji, Mangalore and Kozhikode on any given day as downpours can quickly begin and produce more than 50 mm (2 inches) in a few hours.
The total number of deaths related to the monsoon rainfall this year climbed above 1,000 in August and may rise further due to next week's adverse weather.
Maharashtra has been one of the hardest-hit states by monsoon rainfall this year. Around 250 people have died in flooding since the start of June, according to the Times of India.
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