The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded a multi-day weather alert for the seven sister states, flagging a turbulent mix of thunderstorms, lightning strikes, gusty winds, and heavy rainfall.
The forecast, which spans five days starting Monday, signals not just weather disruptions but underlines a growing vulnerability of climate-sensitive regions like Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh to extreme events. As the summer monsoon pattern undergoes erratic shifts, the region stands exposed to intensifying climate episodes that frequently disrupt mobility, infrastructure, and rural livelihoods. The meteorological agency has projected wind speeds of up to 60 km/h in isolated parts of Assam and Meghalaya, with accompanying thunderstorm activity and lightning strikes likely to affect most northeastern states intermittently throughout the week. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in specific pockets of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, compounding concerns around flash floods, soil erosion, and disruption in low-lying townships. IMD has cited the influence of a prevailing east-west trough extending from northwest Rajasthan to central Bangladesh, intersecting northeastern corridors, while an upper air cyclonic circulation over Assam has further triggered atmospheric instability.
For local populations across these hilly and riverine landscapes, the immediate implications are stark—mudslides, power disruptions, and increased risks for outdoor workers. The persistent pattern of moderate to heavy precipitation not only threatens to paralyse daily life but also puts stress on already fragile urban infrastructure in cities like Guwahati, Itanagar, and Shillong. Given the weak stormwater management in many towns, such high-frequency rainfall poses serious challenges to urban planning, flood mitigation, and public health systems. Civil society groups have long pointed out that Northeast India, rich in biodiversity but poor in adaptive infrastructure, needs stronger policy attention for climate-resilient urban development.
The extended warning by IMD underscores the urgency for proactive disaster response mechanisms and decentralised weather monitoring in states that often remain at the periphery of national climate planning. The region’s topography, dominated by steep gradients and rapid-flowing rivers, amplifies the impact of such weather systems, making it imperative to fast-track adaptive housing, early warning systems, and sustainable drainage projects. Even as maximum temperatures are forecast to stay relatively stable, it is the increasing unpredictability of rainfall and storm activity that will require renewed political and civic focus.
In Guwahati, where a cloudy sky gave way to afternoon showers on Monday, locals are preparing for a week marked by frequent weather shifts. The city administration has issued advisories urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel, especially near waterlogged zones or landslide-prone hillsides. Yet, in a region where agrarian activity and local economies depend heavily on predictable weather cycles, such prolonged spells of disruptive rain only add to uncertainty, particularly for small farmers and informal workers.
As Northeast India navigates another episode of climate volatility, the spotlight must shift to equitable, sustainable solutions that prioritise both environmental stability and human safety. The current weather event is not just another monsoon spell—it is an emblem of the shifting climate paradigm that demands more inclusive and urgent urban resilience planning.
Heavy rains and strong winds to hit Northeast India throughout the week
Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today
