IMD rain alert: Delhi rains return Saturday; heavy rainfall warnings across India
Synopsis
The southwest monsoon may have retreated from Delhi, but rain is set to return by Saturday. More urgently, a deep depression over south Odisha is driving very heavy rainfall warnings across a dozen states — with Uttarakhand facing an 'extremely heavy' alert on 26 September and Chhattisgarh already recording intense downpours.
Key Takeaways
IMD forecasts light to moderate rain in New Delhi from Saturday, 27 September , after a dry Friday.
Delhi's Friday temperature range: minimum 23°C , maximum 34°C ; humidity up to 90% in the morning.
A deep depression over south Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh is fuelling widespread heavy rainfall across central and eastern India.
Very heavy rainfall warnings issued for East Uttar Pradesh , Odisha , Chhattisgarh , Vidarbha , and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim .
Uttarakhand faces an extremely heavy rainfall forecast on 26 September and very heavy rain on 27 September .
Delhi , Haryana , and Chandigarh carry no rain warning for Friday but conditions are expected to shift over the weekend.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a return of rainfall to New Delhi from Saturday, 27 September, even as the southwest monsoon has withdrawn from the capital. On Friday, 26 September, Delhi is expected to remain warm and partly cloudy with no significant rain — but conditions are set to shift over the weekend.
Delhi Weather Outlook: Friday to Saturday
The IMD projects a minimum temperature of around 23 degrees Celsius and a maximum of approximately 34 degrees Celsius in Delhi on Friday. Relative humidity is expected to be high — around 90 per cent in the morning, easing to around 60 per cent by evening — meaning residents are likely to experience sticky, humid conditions through the morning hours despite the absence of rain.
No weather warning has been issued for Delhi on Friday. However, from Saturday, the IMD predicts generally cloudy skies and light to moderate rainfall. Some parts of the capital could also experience thunderstorms and strong winds as the weather system evolves.
Deep Depression Drives Rainfall Across Central and Eastern India
The broader spike in weather activity across India is being driven by a deep depression centred over south Odisha and adjoining north coastal Andhra Pradesh, which is tracking north-northwestwards and gradually weakening. The system continues to fuel heavy to very heavy rainfall across central and eastern parts of the country.
The IMD has issued very heavy rainfall warnings for Chhattisgarh, East Madhya Pradesh, East Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, and Vidarbha. These regions face heightened risk of thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds alongside intense downpours.
State-by-State Alerts Issued by IMD
East Uttar Pradesh is under a very heavy rainfall warning for Friday, with thunderstorms, lightning, and squall activity also possible. West Uttar Pradesh has been placed under a heavy rain warning. Neighbouring Uttarakhand faces a heavy rain warning on Friday, with conditions forecast to worsen — the IMD has projected extremely heavy rainfall on 26 September and very heavy rainfall on 27 September.
Odisha is under a very heavy rain warning with the risk of thunderstorms and lightning. Chhattisgarh, which had already recorded extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places on Thursday, faces continued very heavy rainfall on 25 and 26 September.
The IMD has also forecast heavy rainfall over Assam and Meghalaya, Bihar, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Kerala, Telangana, Uttarakhand, West Madhya Pradesh, and West Uttar Pradesh on Friday.
No Warning for Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh on Friday
Delhi, Haryana, and Chandigarh are not under any rain warning for Friday according to the latest IMD regional advisory. However, the proximity of active weather in East Uttar Pradesh — which carries a very heavy rain warning — means conditions across the northern plains bear watching.
With the deep depression expected to weaken gradually and Delhi's weekend rain window opening from Saturday, residents across large parts of India should remain alert to rapidly changing weather conditions over the next 48 to 72 hours.
Point of View
Yet a return rain event is forecast within 48 hours. For states like Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh, the 'extremely heavy' classification is not routine — it signals infrastructure and landslide risk that demands district-level preparedness, not just a weather ticker. The IMD's granular state-wise alerts are increasingly detailed, but the last-mile communication of these warnings to at-risk communities remains an accountability gap that neither the Centre nor state governments have fully closed.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When will it rain in Delhi again after the monsoon withdrawal?
The IMD forecasts light to moderate rainfall in Delhi from Saturday, 27 September, with some areas possibly experiencing thunderstorms and strong winds. Friday is expected to remain largely dry and partly cloudy.
What is causing the heavy rainfall across India on 25–26 September?
A deep depression centred over south Odisha and adjoining north coastal Andhra Pradesh is tracking north-northwestwards and driving heavy to very heavy rainfall across central and eastern India. The system is gradually weakening but continues to influence weather over multiple states.
Which states have very heavy rainfall warnings from the IMD today?
The IMD has issued very heavy rainfall warnings for East Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, East Madhya Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, and Vidarbha on 25 September. Thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds are also possible in several of these areas.
How severe is the weather threat for Uttarakhand?
Uttarakhand is under a heavy rainfall warning on Friday, but conditions are expected to worsen significantly — the IMD has forecast extremely heavy rainfall on 26 September and very heavy rainfall on 27 September, raising concerns about landslides and flash floods in the hill state.
Is there any weather warning for Delhi, Haryana, or Chandigarh on Friday?
No. The IMD's latest regional advisory does not carry any rain warning for Delhi, Haryana, or Chandigarh on Friday, 26 September. However, nearby East Uttar Pradesh is under a very heavy rain warning, and Delhi's own conditions are forecast to turn rainy from Saturday.
