IMD issues red alert for torrential rain, storms across multiple states on 27 July
Synopsis
The IMD has flagged the next 14 hours as critically dangerous across a wide swathe of India, with wind speeds up to 80 kmph, extreme rainfall in Odisha, and landslide risk in hilly states. This is one of the broadest simultaneous weather alerts of the 2025 monsoon season, stretching from Ladakh to the Bay of Bengal coast.
Key Takeaways
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a weather alert on 27 July covering several states for torrential rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds.
Wind speeds may reach up to 80 kmph in some areas, risking uprooted trees, power outages, and waterlogging.
The next 14 hours are flagged as particularly critical, according to the IMD bulletin.
Odisha faces the most intense spell, with isolated locations likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall on 27 July .
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast across Delhi , Uttar Pradesh , Punjab , Rajasthan , Himachal Pradesh , Uttarakhand , Jharkhand , and Bihar .
Authorities have advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel and urged residents in landslide- and flood-prone areas to take immediate precautions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday, 27 July issued a high-priority weather alert warning of intense monsoon activity — including torrential rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds — across several states. The department flagged the next 14 hours as particularly critical, with wind speeds potentially reaching 80 kmph in some areas.
Key Developments
According to the latest IMD bulletin, the severe weather conditions pose a heightened risk of uprooted trees, power outages, traffic disruptions, and waterlogging in low-lying localities. Residents near rivers and coastal regions, as well as farmers and travellers, have been specifically advised to exercise caution. In hilly terrain, authorities have flagged the added threat of landslides and sudden rises in river water levels.
States Under Watch: North and Northwest India
The IMD has forecast fairly widespread to widespread rainfall over Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Uttarakhand through the week. Rainfall activity is expected to intensify across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan from Monday, with several locations likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall. Parts of Rajasthan and Uttarakhand face an additional risk of thunderstorms and lightning, and the public has been urged to avoid open areas during adverse spells.
Eastern India Braces for Heavy Spells
Significant monsoon activity is also expected across eastern India in the coming days. Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand, and Bihar are all likely to receive widespread rainfall. Odisha faces the most intense spell, with isolated locations forecast to receive extremely heavy rainfall on 27 July. Rainfall activity is set to increase across Bihar through the week, while Jharkhand is also on heavy-rain watch.
Official Advisories and Safety Precautions
The IMD has called on state authorities to remain on high alert and activated public advisories urging citizens to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rainfall. Residents in flood-prone, waterlogging-prone, and landslide-prone areas have been asked to take all necessary precautions. This comes as the monsoon remains active across large parts of the country, marking one of the more widespread alert cycles of the 2025 monsoon season.
Point of View
Lightning, and 80 kmph winds coincide, infrastructure stress is not additive but multiplicative. Power grid failures during storms delay emergency response, and waterlogging in urban centres like Delhi and Lucknow exposes the chronic gap between monsoon-readiness promises and drainage reality. The IMD's advisory to state authorities is necessary but insufficient without pre-positioned disaster response teams — something the Centre has not publicly confirmed as of this alert.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states are under IMD weather alert on 27 July 2025?
The IMD has issued weather alerts covering Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, West Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand, and Bihar. Odisha faces the most severe conditions, with isolated locations forecast to receive extremely heavy rainfall.
What wind speeds has the IMD warned about?
The IMD has warned that wind speeds may reach up to 80 kmph in some affected areas. Such speeds raise the risk of uprooted trees, power outages, traffic disruptions, and waterlogging in low-lying localities.
How long will the severe weather last?
The IMD has flagged the next 14 hours from the time of the bulletin as particularly critical. However, widespread to widespread rainfall is forecast across northern and eastern states through the entire week.
What precautions has the IMD advised?
The IMD has urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel during intense rainfall, stay away from open areas during thunderstorms and lightning, and take precautions in areas prone to flooding, waterlogging, and landslides. Farmers, travellers, and residents near rivers and coastal zones have been specifically cautioned.
Is there a landslide risk in this weather alert?
Yes. The IMD has specifically cautioned against possible landslides and sudden rises in river water levels in hilly states such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, where persistent rainfall is forecast throughout the week.
