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South India braces for thunderstorms and heavy rain today, Sunday, September 20. The India Meteorological Department has alerts for Kerala, Telangana, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Coastal and South Interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu–Puducherry–Karaikal, and Andaman and Nicobar. Gusty winds of 40–50 kmph are possible with lightning. Expect short, intense bursts causing waterlogging and brief power trips. Plan movements around downpours.
A strengthening low‑pressure area over the north Andaman Sea and east‑central Bay is the trigger. IMD guidance suggests a depression on September 21 and a deep depression on September 22. The track likely points west‑northwest, toward the Odisha–Andhra coast within 48–72 hours. That keeps active storm bands trained on peninsular corridors today.
IMD heavy rain, thunderstorms in South India
Kerala retains a heavy rain alert; yellow advisories cover Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam. Telangana carries heavy rain with thunderstorms and strong surface winds. Coastal Andhra Pradesh is on heavy rain watch, with escalation flagged midweek. South Interior Karnataka signals heavy rain; thunderstorms are expected along coastal belts. Port Blair forecasts heavy rain with lightning and 40–50 kmph gusts. Fishermen should stay cautious along Bay coasts.
City nowcasts: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi
Bengaluru: generally cloudy with one or two thundershowers; lightning probability remains high. Hyderabad: partly cloudy, one or two thundershowers possible. Chennai: evening or night thunderstorms likely across both cores. Kochi: heavy rain risk with thunderstorms flagged; visibility can drop quickly. Avoid known waterlogging underpasses during sudden cells, and check airport and Metro apps before departure.
Travel and safety: IMD guidance for South India
Delay non‑essential drives during peak cells; never enter flooded underpasses or hilly ghats. Follow lightning safety: stay indoors during thunder, unplug devices, avoid trees and open grounds. Fishermen along Andhra–Odisha and north Tamil Nadu coasts should heed marine cautions as winds freshen with the Bay system. Keep IMD’s district maps and nowcast pages handy for route decisions.
Expect intermittent squalls through the day, with clearer breaks between cores. If the Bay system intensifies as guided, rainfall could expand northward by Wednesday, September 23, affecting eastern corridors and return trips. We will refresh city advisories at midday and after evening bulletins. Check live radar and IMD nowcasts before stepping out today.