The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds across several parts of the country on Monday, September 28. Heavy downpours with lightning are expected in parts of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam and Meghalaya, the Daily Jagran reported.

Fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorms is likely over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with isolated heavy rain in Uttarakhand, the report said. Northeastern states face strong winds of 40 to 50 kmph, with gusts up to 60 kmph. Isolated heavy rain is also forecast for East and West Uttar Pradesh.

IMD has placed yellow alerts across seven states — Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir — for thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds, Nativeplanet reported. Heavy rain is also expected over South Interior Karnataka and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands today, All India Radio said.

The alert matters because the wet spell coincides with harvest season and hill travel. Commuters and travellers should track district nowcasts and allow extra time on highways during gusty spells.