Practice English with NewsPractice with News
Nature239 words2 min read

New Weather System to Bring Heavy Rain to 21 Indian States

a cloud with a lightning and rain coming out of it
Photo by Abid Shah on Unsplash
0:00 / 0:00

Listen to the story

India's weather office, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), has issued a fresh alert about heavy rainfall. A new weather system is developing and is expected to bring strong rain to many parts of the country.

According to the alert, 21 states will receive heavy to very heavy rainfall within the next 18 hours. The IMD has also warned of thunderstorms, strong winds, and lightning in several areas.

Wind speeds during these storms could reach up to 75 kilometers per hour. The department has asked people in affected areas to stay careful, especially during lightning strikes, which can be dangerous for people outdoors.

States such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha are among the areas expected to see heavy rainfall. However, in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), the monsoon has slowed down recently.

The monsoon is India's main rainy season, usually bringing large amounts of rainfall between June and September. This new system is expected to reactivate monsoon activity in many parts of the country, even as it stays weak in and around Delhi.

A low-pressure system, which is an area of the atmosphere with lower air pressure, often causes intense rain and stormy weather. This is believed to be the cause behind the current forecast.

Local authorities and residents in the highlighted states have been advised to follow official updates and take precautions such as avoiding open fields and tall trees during thunderstorms.

Vocabulary7 words

alert
an official warning about danger
thunderstorm
a storm with strong wind, heavy rain, and lightning
National Capital Region
the area around Delhi city
monsoon
the rainy season in South Asia
low-pressure system
an area of air that often brings rain and storms
IMD
India's official weather department
lightning
a sudden flash of light during a storm, which can be dangerous

Quiz

1. How many states are expected to get heavy rainfall?
2. What has happened to the monsoon in Delhi-NCR?
3. What is one danger mentioned in the alert besides rain?

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

India's weather office, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), has issued a fresh _____ about heavy rainfall.

According to the alert, _____ states will receive heavy to very heavy rainfall within the next _____ hours.

The IMD has also warned of _____, strong winds, and lightning in several areas.

Wind speeds during these storms could reach up to _____ kilometers per hour.

In Delhi and the National Capital Region, the _____ has slowed down recently.

A _____, an area with lower air pressure, often causes intense rain and stormy weather.

Discussion questions

  1. Why do you think weather alerts are important for people living in affected states?
  2. How can heavy rain and thunderstorms affect daily life in a city?
  3. What precautions should people take during lightning storms?
  4. Why might the monsoon be strong in some regions but weak in others, like Delhi?

More Nature stories