Is it raining now in Patna?

Patna Rain Radar: Frequently Asked Questions

Is it raining in Patna right now?

A live radar check is the only accurate answer — Patna's monsoon rain arrives as short, intense 1-to-3-hour afternoon downpours that can flood one part of the city while another stays dry. RainViewer's hyperlocal radar, sourced from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and updated every 5 minutes, shows exactly where rain is falling across Patna right now.

Should I visit Golghar or the Ganga riverfront today?

Check the radar before you go — Patna's afternoon convective downpours can build in under an hour, and the riverfront is directly exposed. RainViewer's 5-minute updates show whether a cell is 20 minutes out or already overhead, a better guide than a general forecast.

Does rain affect travel between Patna Junction and Jay Prakash Narayan Airport?

Short, intense afternoon downpours are common on the roughly 5 km route between Patna Junction and the airport, and a cell can build faster than a fixed departure schedule accounts for. Checking the radar before that connection shows whether the route is clear. RainViewer displays the cell's position and movement in real time.

Does Patna flood when it rains?

Rain alone isn't usually the main driver — Patna's flood risk comes mostly from the Ganga, Punpun and Sone rivers backing up or overflowing, as in September 2019 when the Punpun hit 53.57 m, just below its 1976 record. Large parts of the city sit on low-lying colonial-era land without adequate sewerage, a standing risk independent of any single storm. Avoid riverside gauge areas like Dighaghat and Gandhighat when river levels are rising.

When is the best time to visit Patna to avoid rain and flooding?

November through May is Patna's dry season, with both direct rainfall and river-flood risk dropping once the Ganga, Punpun and Sone gauges settle. July–August carries the most intense afternoon convective rain, while late September into October carries the highest river-flood risk, sometimes weeks after the heaviest rain fell upstream. Visitors should target the dry months for the lowest combined risk.

Why is Patna's flood risk hard to predict from rainfall alone?

Patna is flanked by three major rivers — the Ganga, Punpun and Sone — that can overflow even during moderate local rain, because the flood driver is often upstream rainfall arriving downstream days or weeks later. In the 2019 flood, central and eastern Bihar received rainfall 176% above average, saturating soil about 19% above normal before the worst flooding hit. A live radar view tracking rain across the wider river basin, not just the city, is the only way to anticipate that lag.

Is there a live rain radar for Patna?

Yes — RainViewer's hyperlocal radar for Patna draws data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) via mausam.imd.gov.in and refreshes every 5 minutes. It tracks short convective cells building over the city and across the wider Ganga basin. Coverage extends upstream and downstream to Varanasi and Bhagalpur on the same feed.

Can I get a warning before rain hits Patna?

Yes — RainViewer's rain alert notifies you when a storm cell is a set distance from a saved location, such as a grain trading operation in the Danapur–Bihta corridor or a home near Gandhighat. Setting an alert there gives traders time to move stock before a downpour or river rise arrives. The same alert works for any saved Patna location, including Patna Junction.