IMD rain alert today: heavy rain for Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Delhi stays dry

The India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy to very heavy rain across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, with lightning and 30–50 kmph gusts in places. Delhi and most of north India stay dry. District Collectors — not social media — decide on school and college holidays.

Where the heaviest rain falls today

The Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai has flagged heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore and Villupuram districts, plus Puducherry and Karaikal, CareerIndia reported.

IMD's official all-India weather forecast bulletin (the AIWFB, published on mausam.imd.gov.in) matches: for 20 October it lists heavy rainfall likely at isolated places over Kerala and Mahe, South Interior Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu–Puducherry–Karaikal.

In Kerala, the Met Centre in Thiruvananthapuram has warned of isolated heavy rain across Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam, CareerIndia reported, with thunderstorms bringing 30–50 kmph gusts in places. The official bulletin also lists thunderstorms with lightning and 30–40 kmph gusty winds at isolated places over Telangana, and thunderstorms with lightning over Madhya Maharashtra.

How long this spell lasts

This is not a one-day event. Particle's summary of the IMD forecast puts it on a timeline: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal face isolated very heavy rainfall through 21 October, continuing as isolated heavy rain from 22 to 24 October. Kerala and Mahe, along with South Interior Karnataka, are likely to see isolated heavy rain from 19 to 24 October. Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema carry a heavier risk concentrated from 19 to 21 October, and Lakshadweep from 21 to 23 October, Particle reported.

Fishermen are advised caution in the southwest Arabian Sea and adjoining waters from 19 to 22 October, according to the same IMD forecast.

Delhi and the rest of the country

The other half of the story is what isn't happening. Delhi and the National Capital Region are expected to remain mostly dry, with no fresh rainfall forecast by the department, thetimesofbengal reported. Most of northwest, central, eastern and northeastern India is expected to see stable autumn weather through the week, bollywoodremind reported, citing IMD.

Schools, exams and travel: who decides what

With rain on the radar, the question parents and students actually ask is whether schools are open. The answer, CareerIndia reported, is that District Collectors take the call for each affected district, based on IMD warnings and local impact — not on social-media forwards.

Practically, that means:

• Check your District Collector's official page or the district website before stepping out; CareerIndia cites Pathanamthitta's portal as an example of where orders appear.
• Tamil Nadu's information department notes the same: collectors decide for affected districts. Keep screenshots of any official order for your records.
• Commuters should build in buffer time and watch the IMD's district-wise pages for late-evening revisions, since forecasts are updated through the day.
• The IMD's own bulletin is valid from 8:30 AM IST of one day to 8:30 AM IST of the next — always check the timestamp on what you're reading.