A developing low pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to revive the southwest monsoon after a brief dry spell, bringing widespread rainfall to several parts of India from July 19 according to meteorologists.
The weather system is drawing moisture from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, strengthening monsoon conditions after many regions experienced rising temperatures and humid weather due to reduced rainfall.
Satellite imagery shows dense cloud formation and strong upward air movement over the Bay of Bengal. The low pressure area is expected to move westwards towards Odisha and West Bengal over the next two to three days before influencing weather across northern and central India.
Rainfall activity is expected to intensify between July 19 and 20 with fairly widespread showers and isolated heavy rainfall forecast over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.
The India Meteorological Department has also indicated the possibility of very heavy rainfall over the Himalayan foothills, including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and parts of Jammu, where residents have been advised to remain alert.
Scattered rainfall is also likely over Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana, while rainfall along the west coast is expected to strengthen gradually over the weekend.
Meteorologists said daily rainfall is likely to return to near normal levels across many parts of the country after July 20, although an immediate surge in monsoon activity is not expected.
The expected revival comes at a crucial time, as uneven monsoon rainfall has affected water storage in several major reservoirs, particularly in southern and eastern India. Improved rainfall is expected to help replenish reservoirs that support irrigation drinking water supply and hydropower generation, while also providing relief from prevailing heat and humidity.