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As the time of official departure of south-west monsoon from the country’s largest state Uttar Pradesh is approaching, the weather has suddenly taken a turn. Usually, in the second fortnight of September, monsoon clouds start receding from North India, but this time the cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal and the monsoon trough line passing through Central India have re-energized the returning monsoon. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Zonal Meteorological Center Lucknow, a strong influx of easterly and moist winds is being recorded in the atmosphere of Uttar Pradesh. Due to this, a new round of rain with thunder and lightning has started in more than 35 districts from Meerut, Baghpat, Shamli and Saharanpur of Western Uttar Pradesh to Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur and Ghazipur of Awadh and Purvanchal. Meteorologists say that this rainy season is the ‘Last Active Monsoon Spell’ of this monsoon season. Due to this seasonal change, while the people suffering from the sticky humidity of more than 85 percent for the last one week, have got relief from the scorching heat and the daytime mercury has dropped by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius, it has also created the risk of waterlogging and lightning in many lowland areas.
The effect of monsoon winds is most visible in the plains of western Uttar Pradesh. In Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Shamli, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) and Bulandshahr, the sky is covered with dark cumulus clouds and intermittent drizzle to moderate rain is being recorded. Whereas in Moradabad, Bijnor, Rampur, Sambhal, Amroha, Bareilly, Badaun, Aligarh, Mathura and Agra of Ruhilkhand and Braj region, showers with cold winds are continuing. The Meteorological Department has issued ‘Yellow Alert’ for the Terai of Western UP and areas adjacent to Delhi-NCR. Here, strong gusty winds at a speed of 30 to 40 kilometers per hour and heavy showers with thunder and lightning are expected at some places. This rain has brought the air quality (AQI) of cities in western UP to ‘Good’ category, giving urban residents suffering from pollution a chance to breathe fresh air.
The districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh (Purvanchal) and Awadh are being directly affected by the moist winds coming from the Bay of Bengal. Warning of moderate to heavy rain with thunder has been issued at many places in the Prime Minister’s parliamentary constituency Varanasi, Sangam city Prayagraj, Gorakshpeeth land Gorakhpur, Deoria, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra. In the capital Lucknow, Kanpur, Unnao, Barabanki, Ayodhya, Rae Bareli, Amethi and Sultanpur, there are chances of heavy showers amid movement of dense clouds in the afternoon and evening. Scientists of Meteorological Center Lucknow have issued a strict warning regarding lightning strike, especially in the rural areas of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The combination of excessive moisture in the atmosphere and afternoon sunlight is causing ‘Convective Clouds’ to form very rapidly, which suddenly produce severe thunder and heavy rain within 15 to 20 minutes.
The activity of monsoon clouds and intensity of rainfall in different geographical zones of the state can be easily understood through this table:
| Division/Area of UP | Major affected districts | Rain forecast and intensity | Meteorological Department warning/alert |
| Western Uttar Pradesh | Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Bijnor, Baghpat, Moradabad | Moderate to heavy showers, effect till September 18 | Thunderstorms and strong winds with a speed of 35 km/h |
| NCR and Braj region | Noida, Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Mathura, Agra, Bulandshahr | Light to moderate rain, partly cloudy | Relief from humidity, waterlogging situation at some places |
| Central UP (Awadh region) | Lucknow, Kanpur, Unnao, Barabanki, Ayodhya, Rae Bareli | Intermittent showers, clouds in the evening | 3 to 4°C drop in day temperature |
| Purvanchal (Varanasi and Gorakhpur) | Varanasi, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Azamgarh | Moderate to heavy rain, active till September 20 | Yellow alert, serious risk of lightning |
| Southern UP and Bundelkhand | Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Banda | Thunderstorms, humid weather | Advice to be cautious near rivers and water sources |
Lakhs of citizens of Uttar Pradesh, especially businessmen and general public preparing for Navratri and festive shopping, are eager to know when this storm will stop and the sky will clear. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the official withdrawal of south-west monsoon is going to start from parts of western Rajasthan from 19 September 2026. After Rajasthan, monsoon winds will move eastwards and start leaving Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
As per IMD’s phased departure schedule:
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Relief in Western Uttar Pradesh: Rain activities in Meerut, Saharanpur, Noida, Ghaziabad and Moradabad will weaken significantly from the evening of September 18. From September 19, the sky will start clearing in the western districts and bright sunshine will start blooming.
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Relief in Eastern Uttar Pradesh: Scattered showers and cloud movement may continue in Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Prayagraj till September 20. From September 21, 2026, the weather in entire Uttar Pradesh will become completely dry.
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Temperature and pink cold: After September 21, as soon as the north-western dry winds start blowing, the humidity level in the air will decrease rapidly. Due to this, mild heat will be felt due to strong sunlight during the day, but the minimum temperature at night and early morning will start falling, which will bring a slight ‘pink cold’ in Uttar Pradesh in the first fortnight of October.
Farmers of Uttar Pradesh are in double dilemma regarding the rains of this last phase of monsoon. Agricultural scientists and the state agriculture department have issued detailed advisories to farmers based on the condition of their crops:
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Amrit for late paddy crops: For those farmers who had planted Basmati or normal paddy late and the crop is still in the gubhot or milk filling stage, this rain is very beneficial for maintaining the necessary moisture in the soil and strengthening the ear grains. This will result in huge savings in diesel and tube well irrigation expenses of the farmers.
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Warning for early ripening crops: In areas where crops of maize, millet, urad, moong and sesame are ripe and ready to be harvested, farmers should immediately stop harvesting. If the crop is harvested in the barn or field, then cover it well with tarpaulin or plastic sheet and transport it to higher places, otherwise due to exposure to water, the grains may lose their shine and there may be a risk of sprouting.
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Drainage for vegetable growers: Farmers sowing cabbage, chilli, tomato and early rapeseed/mustard should not allow water to stagnate in the fields. Make arrangements for drainage immediately by cutting the ridges of the fields, because excessive moisture can cause damping off disease in the nursery.
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Protection from lightning: The Disaster Management Department has appealed to the farmers not to roam in the fields with iron hoes, sickles or tractors in the open during rain or thunder. Under no circumstances stand alone under a tall rosewood, banyan or neem tree. Keep the Government of India’s ‘Damini’ app in your mobile and take shelter in a permanent house immediately if the weather worsens.
This last bet of monsoon in Uttar Pradesh is making nature green and recharging the groundwater level. After this monsoon rain of the next 48 to 72 hours, the people of the state will not only get relief from waterlogging and humidity, but will also get a chance to welcome sunshine and clear blue skies across the state from September 21.