IMD red alert in Uttarakhand; heavy rain forecast for Himachal, UP, Delhi
Synopsis
The IMD has issued a red alert for Uttarakhand's most vulnerable districts as a depression tracks north-northwestward across UP, driving exceptionally heavy rain. The Char Dham Yatra has been suspended — a rare weather-forced halt to one of India's most significant pilgrimages — while Delhi braces for three days of rain and orange or yellow alerts cover over a dozen states.
Key Takeaways
IMD issued a red alert on 27 September 2026 for Dehradun , Tehri , Haridwar , and Pauri in Uttarakhand.
The Char Dham Yatra has been suspended due to adverse weather conditions.
A depression moving north-northwestwards at 12 km/h was located 40 km southeast of Lucknow on Sunday; expected to weaken into a low-pressure area within six hours.
Snowfall recorded in high-altitude districts — Pithoragarh , Chamoli , Rudraprayag , and Uttarkashi — driving sharp temperature drops.
Delhi-NCR forecast to receive rain over the next three days following Saturday evening showers.
An orange alert covers Jharkhand; yellow alerts issued for more than a dozen states including Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Himachal Pradesh.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday, 27 September 2026, issued a red alert for torrential rain and thunderstorms in Uttarakhand, while forecasting heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, western Uttar Pradesh, and the Delhi-NCR region over the next three days. The alerts come as a depression over north-eastern Madhya Pradesh and adjoining northern Chhattisgarh pushes moisture northward, triggering one of the season's most widespread multi-state rain events.
Red Alert in Uttarakhand: Worst-Hit Districts
The IMD has placed Dehradun, Tehri, Haridwar, and Pauri under a red alert following heavy rains that lashed the state on Saturday. Extremely heavy to exceptionally heavy rainfall is expected across Uttarakhand on Sunday, according to the department. In the high-altitude districts of Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Uttarkashi, temperatures have plunged sharply due to fresh snowfall.
In a significant disruption, the Char Dham Yatra — one of India's most important Hindu pilgrimages — has been suspended in view of the adverse weather, a decision that affects thousands of pilgrims mid-route.
Depression Over UP: Track and Intensity
According to weather data shared by the IMD on social media platform X, a depression that formed over south-eastern Uttar Pradesh was moving north-northwestwards at a speed of 12 km/h as of Sunday. At that point, it was located approximately 40 km southeast of Lucknow, 80 km east-northeast of Kanpur, 110 km south-southwest of Bahraich, and 260 km southeast of Bareilly.
The IMD assessed a high probability that the system would continue its north-northwestward track across eastern Uttar Pradesh and gradually weaken into a 'well-marked low-pressure area' over the same region within the next six hours. Even as it weakens, the system is expected to drive heavy to very heavy rainfall — and in isolated pockets, extremely heavy or exceptionally heavy rain — in Uttarakhand and parts of northern Uttar Pradesh.
Delhi-NCR Rain Forecast for Three Days
Saturday evening's rainfall triggered a weather shift in Delhi-NCR, with residents experiencing a noticeable chill on Sunday morning. The IMD has forecast continued rain in the national capital over the next three days, signalling that the monsoon's final active spell could deliver sustained wet weather to the city before the season closes.
Multi-State Alerts: Orange and Yellow Warnings
Beyond Uttarakhand's red alert, the IMD has issued an orange alert for Jharkhand on Sunday. A yellow alert covers Madhya Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, Marathwada, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu for the same day.
For Monday, yellow alerts have been extended to Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. Strong winds are additionally expected along coastal Andhra Pradesh. The breadth of Sunday's alert system — covering well over a dozen states — underscores the scale of the active weather pattern gripping much of India as the monsoon season nears its close.
Point of View
A pattern consistent with recent years. The depression's track through densely populated eastern UP, even as it weakens, risks flash flooding in low-lying areas along the Lucknow-Kanpur belt where drainage infrastructure is chronically inadequate. The scale of alerts — red, orange, and yellow across fifteen-plus states simultaneously — also raises the question of whether colour-coded warnings, now issued so routinely and broadly, are losing their actionable edge for local administrations and the public.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which areas are under IMD red alert on 27 September 2026?
The IMD has issued a red alert for the Uttarakhand districts of Dehradun, Tehri, Haridwar, and Pauri on 27 September 2026, warning of torrential rain and thunderstorms. Extremely heavy to exceptionally heavy rainfall is expected in these areas on Sunday.
Why has the Char Dham Yatra been suspended?
The Char Dham Yatra has been suspended due to adverse weather conditions in Uttarakhand, including heavy rain, snowfall in high-altitude areas, and the red alert issued by the IMD. The suspension affects thousands of pilgrims currently en route to the shrines.
Where is the weather depression located and where is it headed?
As of Sunday, the depression was located approximately 40 km southeast of Lucknow and was tracking north-northwestwards at 12 km/h across eastern Uttar Pradesh. The IMD expects it to gradually weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area in the same region within six hours.
Will it rain in Delhi in the coming days?
Yes. The IMD has forecast rainfall in Delhi-NCR over the next three days following rain on Saturday evening that brought a noticeable chill to the city on Sunday morning. The forecast is linked to the active depression system moving through northern India.
Which other states have rain alerts for Sunday and Monday?
For Sunday, an orange alert is in place for Jharkhand, and yellow alerts cover Madhya Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, Marathwada, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu. For Monday, yellow alerts extend to Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, with strong winds expected along coastal Andhra Pradesh.
