From Gangtok to Kerala: Destinations travellers should watch as IMD issues fresh alerts

The India Meteorological Department’s June 17 weather bulletin has put a wide stretch of India on alert, with risks ranging from heavy rain and landslides to dust storms, strong winds and heatwave conditions. For travelers, the forecast matters because the hazards are not confined to one region: wet weather is affecting the northeast, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, while heat and wind-related disruption are likely in parts of the northwest and central India.

The latest forecast comes during the early southwest monsoon period, when conditions can change quickly and affect road, rail, air and coastal movement. IMD has flagged some areas for isolated very heavy rain, while other belts face thunderstorms with gusty winds or dry heat stress, creating a mixed travel risk map for the next several days.

Where the heaviest rain is expected

According to the bulletin, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are expected to receive isolated very heavy rainfall from June 17 to June 22. Bihar is forecast to see isolated heavy rain from June 17 to June 20, while Assam and Meghalaya are likely to get heavy rain on June 17 and again on June 21 and June 22, with very heavy rainfall expected between June 18 and June 20.

Kerala and Mahe are expected to see fairly widespread to widespread rain through much of the forecast period, with isolated heavy rainfall likely on June 17. Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal are also in the alert zone, with heavy rainfall likely on June 17 and June 18. For travelers heading to hill stations, river valleys or coastal routes, those forecasts raise the risk of waterlogging, poor visibility and local access problems.

Destinations travellers should watch

The travel-focused warnings extend to a number of popular destinations and corridors. Times of India said travelers to Gangtok, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kerala, Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Mussoorie and Nainital should expect weather-related delays or disruptions. In the northeast, steep terrain and rain can quickly trigger landslides or road closures. In the Himalayas, visibility and slope instability can affect hill travel and sightseeing plans.

Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab are forecast to see thunderstorms with gusty winds of 40 to 50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, on June 17 and again between June 19 and June 22. Western Rajasthan is expected to see dust storm activity between June 17 and June 19. Those conditions can disrupt flights, ground transport and outdoor activity even when rainfall is limited.

Heat risk in central and northern India

IMD is also warning of heatwave conditions in several inland states. Chhattisgarh faces heatwave risk on June 17, Telangana on June 17 and 18, Vidarbha from June 17 to 19, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada on June 18 and 19, and parts of Uttar Pradesh from June 17 to 22.

That matters for travel because the risk is not only discomfort. Long road journeys, sightseeing in open areas and waiting at transport hubs can become harder in extreme heat, especially for older travelers, children and anyone spending long periods outdoors. Travelers in those regions should plan for hydration, shade and schedule flexibility.

Timeline behind the alert

The current bulletin sits in a short but active sequence of weather developments. India’s southwest monsoon officially reached Kerala on June 4, according to The Guardian’s weather tracker, and has since advanced farther north-east into Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. On June 12, earlier IMD-linked coverage warned of heavy rain in Kerala and hailstorms in Delhi, with possible disruption through June 17.

By June 15, Delhi-NCR had already seen a red alert amid heavy rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds. The June 17 bulletin expands the map further, combining wet-weather warnings in the east and south with dry and hot conditions in central and northern India.

Marine and local advisories

IMD’s travel-facing warning also includes the coast. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into several sectors of the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea between June 17 and June 21 because of squally weather and strong winds. That raises a separate safety concern for coastal communities and anyone planning marine travel, ferry movement or beach activity.

The practical takeaway is that disruption may vary sharply by district and by day. One route may face heavy rain, while another confronts dust storms or extreme heat. Local transport and disaster advisories can change faster than a general forecast, so travelers should check the latest updates before setting out.

The broader picture remains the same: this is an early-monsoon weather pattern with overlapping hazards. For travelers, the safest assumption is that schedules may need to move around IMD’s alerts rather than the other way around.