India's monsoon is retreating: These states will still get rain on Friday

Rain and thunderstorms will continue over parts of southern and northeastern India on Friday, October 2, even as the southwest monsoon steadily retreats from large parts of the country.According to the India Meteorological Department's latest forecast, issued on Thursday evening, isolated heavy rain is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, while thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds are expected in parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and the northeastern states. Women walk under an umbrella as a sudden spell of rain lashes Mumbai. (Photo: PTI) The weather pattern is also a reminder that the monsoon does not disappear across India all at once.While large parts of north and central India are entering a drier phase, pockets of rain can continue over the south, east and northeast due to lingering weather systems. NORTHEAST TO SEE A HEAVY RAIN DAYArunachal Pradesh is the main focus for heavy rain on October 2, with isolated heavy rainfall forecast by the IMD. A satellite image shows the weather systems over the Indian subcontinent. (Photo: IMD) Thunderstorms and lightning are also likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim could see isolated thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph. Odisha is also likely to experience thunderstorms and gusty winds in isolated places.The activity comes as a low-pressure area over North Myanmar and adjoining areas of southeast Bangladesh, Mizoram and the northeast Bay of Bengal persists.The system and its associated circulation are expected to remain over the region for the next several hours. The weather system near Myanmar is seen heading towards India in this satellite image. (Photo: Windy) SOUTH INDIA REMAINS ACTIVE AS MONSOON LEAVESKerala and Mahe, along with Lakshadweep and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, are likely to see isolated thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph.Andhra Pradesh could also see thunderstorms with gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, along with strong surface winds in isolated areas.The wider rainfall forecast shows Kerala receiving fairly widespread rain through the coming week, while coastal parts of Karnataka and southern Karnataka are also expected to remain wetter than several other parts of the country. Dark monsoon clouds gather as heavy rain lashes Bengaluru, Karnataka. (Photo: PTI) Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon is continuing its withdrawal.The IMD said conditions are becoming favourable for further withdrawal from the remaining parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, along with most of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and several other areas, over the next 48 hours.For Delhi-NCR and most of north India, however, Friday is expected to remain dry.The IMD's rainfall forecast shows no rain for Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi through October 2, with isolated rain returning only later in the week.Monsoon has ended and it's starting to show.- Ends