Heavy rain may trigger unprecedented river flooding in northeastern India

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

August 12,2017, 10:59:46AM,EDT

 

 

Heavy rain has once again targeted northeastern India, forcing the evacuations of more than 13,000 people and threatening to trigger unprecedented river flooding.
Frequent downpours will continue to target communities from northeastern Uttar Pradesh to Assam, Nagaland and Manipur this weekend. Neighboring parts of Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh will also be inundated.
The potential exists for some communities to receive 75-125 mm (3-5 inches) of torrential rainfall each day. Each round of downpours will further increase the risk for flooding and mudslides, especially where the ground is already saturated from rain earlier this week.
Tezpur in Assam recorded 87 mm (3.43 inches) of rain in the 24 hours spanning Thursday and Thursday night, local time.

The resultant flooding forced more than 13,000 people in Assam to seek shelter in temporary camps, according to The Times of India.
Residents should prepare for additional evacuations due to rapidly rising water and rivers overflowing their banks. Raging waterways or mudslides may also damage roads and bridges.
The government has warned of unprecedented river flooding along portions of the River Brahmaputra and its tributaries through 20 August.
Northeastern India endured deadly flooding and landslides during the middle of July, with Assam one of the hardest-hit states. Dozens were killed, and more than half of the Kaziranga National Park was flooded. This park is home to the world’s largest one-horned rhinoceros population.
Elsewhere across India, any flash flooding will be on a more localized level this weekend, as showers and thunderstorms will be more scattered in nature.
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Detailed forecast for New Delhi
In the National Capital Region and most of Rajasthan, dry air is expected to suppress shower and thunderstorm development this weekend. Temperatures will then be allowed to soar to around 35 C (95 F) around New Delhi.
"No big change in the current monsoon pattern across India is expected through next week," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said.
While the frequency may lessen from this weekend, downpours will continue to target parts of northeastern India next week and may trigger new flooding or worsen existing problems.
A shower or thunderstorm may cross the National Capital Region on one or two occasions, but next week should remain largely dry.
"Looking beyond next week, there are signs that point to more normal monsoon rains across northwestern and central India in late August and early September," Nicholls said.