New Delhi: Monsoon activity is gearing up for a fresh surge across several regions on Sunday, 23 August 2026. According to updates from the India Meteorological
Department, a combination of active atmospheric systems will bring widespread rain with central and eastern India likely taking the brunt of intense, heavy to very heavy spells.
Driving this surge is a persistent low-pressure system parked over northeast Madhya Pradesh, alongside a monsoon trough stretching across northern and central belts. Adding to the momentum, meteorologists track a fresh low-pressure area expected to form over the north Bay of Bengal off the West Bengal-Bangladesh coast.
This developing marine system will likely pump substantial moisture inland over the coming days, keeping monsoon conditions vigorous. In the national capital region along with Haryana and Chandigarh are likely to experience cloudy conditions on Sunday.
IMD forecasts indicate scattered, light to moderate rainfall rather than a continuous downpour. However, localised short spells of heavy showers remain possible in isolated pockets which could briefly slow down traffic during peak hours.
Central and Eastern India brace for intense downpours
Central India will remain the main active zone for the monsoon. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is projected for East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, East Uttar Pradesh and Odisha. The widespread rain will also cover West Madhya Pradesh and the Vidarbha region over the next few days.
Further among east states like Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar are lined up for active wet spells accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Authorities along the Bengal and Odisha coasts have also alerted fishermen regarding rough seas and strong squally winds triggered by the Bay of Bengal system.
Outlook for northern, southern and northeastern belts
Across northern India, scattered heavy rain is likely in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir while hilly states remain on high watch for potential landslips and river swell. In the Northeast, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura will see steady monsoon activity. Down south, coastal Karnataka, Kerala, Konkan and Goa are set for fairly widespread downpours as coastal winds pick up.
