Saturday, March 29, 2025
Monsoon Forecast: Dussehra Likely to Be Marked by Rain, Says IMD
Lucknow, September 22, 2025 – The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that this year’s Dussehra festivities may coincide with rainfall, as the monsoon is expected to linger longer in parts of the country.
Several regions have already witnessed heavy downpours this season, causing rivers like the Yamuna in Delhi-NCR to rise above danger levels. States such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab have suffered devastating floods, leading to crop destruction, damaged homes, and widespread losses. Landslides near shrines like Vaishno Devi also highlighted the severity of the weather.
According to IMD, the monsoon is likely to withdraw from India by October 15, but until then, many areas could continue receiving heavy rainfall. Forecasts indicate rain between September 23–27 in Odisha, Jharkhand, coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Yanam, while Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, and West Bengal may also see showers during this period. Northeast India is expected to witness intense rain accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds (30–40 km/h) in the coming days.
In Uttar Pradesh, monsoon withdrawal has already begun, and rainfall has been below normal. As of September 20, the state had received 3% less rainfall than average. August saw a 2% deficit, and experts warn that the trend could continue. Still, the IMD suggests that rain may persist into Navratri and Dussehra, particularly in eastern UP, while western districts remain relatively dry.
Between June 1 and September 20, districts like Sambhal, Hamirpur, Etah, Bijnor, and Firozabad recorded above-normal rainfall. Etah, in particular, saw higher rainfall due to its location along the path of Bay of Bengal moisture streams. However, overall rainfall in UP has been consistently below normal in recent years.
2022: 29% deficit (lowest in five years)
2023: 17% deficit
2024: Normal rainfall
With monsoon retreat expected only by mid-October, this year’s festive season may be marked by wet weather across several regions of India.
