Heavy Rainfall Triggers Flash Flood Alert Across India

Flash Flood Alert for South and Central India Amid Heavy Rainfall
New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a flash flood alert for several regions across south and central India, including Saurashtra, Kutch, Konkan, Goa, Karnataka, Vidarbha, and Uttarakhand. This warning follows heavy rainfall resulting from a low-pressure area over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining Vidarbha.
El Niño and La Niña Impact: India is experiencing significant rainfall this monsoon season due to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) shifting to a neutral phase, with the cooler La Niña phase expected to develop later in the season (August-September). La Niña, which occurs every 3-5 years, leads to sea surface cooling and increased rainfall, often causing flooding.
Immediate Risks: The IMD reported that low to moderate flash floods are likely in specific watersheds and neighborhoods in north and south Goa, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Dakshin Kannada, Udupi, Uttar Kannada, Chandrapur, and Gadchirouli districts within the next six hours. Additionally, moderate flash floods are anticipated in Konkan and Goa, coastal Karnataka, and parts of south interior Karnataka, and low to moderate flash floods are expected in Uttarakhand and some watersheds of the Gujarat region, including Saurashtra and Kutch, within the next 24 hours. Surface runoff and inundation may occur in fully saturated soils and low-lying areas.
Recent Flooding: Flash floods have already affected several neighborhoods in the mentioned districts over the past six hours, following a red alert from the Met Department.
Rainfall Statistics: The southern peninsula experienced 28% excess rainfall over the past 24 hours, while central India saw normal levels. Since the start of the monsoon season, these regions have received 17% above and 3% below normal rainfall, respectively. Since June 1, India has received 305.8 mm of rain, which is 3% below average, including an 11% deficit in June.
Monsoon Progress: Despite an early onset of the southwest monsoon on the Kerala coast and in northeast India, the monsoon lost momentum but reached northwest India on time by June 29, resulting in Delhi’s highest single-day June rainfall in 88 years. Mumbai experienced similar heavy rainfall. The IMD forecasts above-normal rainfall for July, with potential flooding in the western Himalayan states and river basins in central India.