# IMD forecasts widespread rain across India over next week

2026-09-17T15:46:54+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

India is set for widespread rainfall across central, eastern, western and southern regions over the next week, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday. Heavy rain with thunderstorms and lightning is forecast at isolated places in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Lakshadweep, and East Rajasthan on Friday. A fresh low-pressure area is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal around Saturday, which may intensify into a monsoon depression and track towards the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh or Odisha-West Bengal coasts early next week. The southern peninsula is seen as the main beneficiary of that system. Meanwhile, the monsoon is likely to begin withdrawing from parts of West Rajasthan around Saturday, even as a western disturbance over Jammu adds complexity to the forecast. India's cumulative monsoon rainfall was 15% below normal as of September 17.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

All three sources rely on the same IMD forecast data, producing near-identical factual coverage. The only variation is emphasis: livemint.com leads with the 'next week' outlook and the cumulative 15% rainfall deficit, giving a broader seasonal context. indiatoday.com front-loads the 'Friday' forecast and adds a concluding note on the monsoon's withdrawal from West Rajasthan. thehindubusinessline.com devotes the most space to the emerging Bay of Bengal low-pressure system, its potential intensification, and the competing model tracks. A balanced reading of the three articles confirms that while the monsoon is winding down in the north-west, a fresh system over the Bay may keep rainfall active over eastern and southern India for another week. The key variable to track is whether that system reaches depression intensity and whether it tracks towards Odisha-West Bengal or Andhra Pradesh, as the numerical models currently disagree.

## Coverage

- livemint.com (neutral report) <https://www.livemint.com/news/rainfall-to-remain-widespread-across-several-regions-over-next-week-11789643724685.html>
  Straight wire-style reporting of IMD forecast data, no editorialising
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/india-weather-september-heavy-rain-thunderstorms-monsoon-low-pressure-system-storm-forecast-2996911-2026-09-17>
  Straight reporting led with the 'Friday' heavy rain forecast and monsoon withdrawal note
- thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/imd-update-brewing-low-may-initially-ramp-up-as-monsoon-depression/article71479619.ece>
  Straight reporting but adds extended analysis of brewing low and model tracks

Tags: Andhra Pradesh, India Meteorological Department, Odisha, southwest monsoon, west Rajasthan
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