&w=3840&q=100)
Monsoon likely to hit Delhi by June 22, ahead of normal schedule
Vijay Prasad Sharma New Delhi
The southwest monsoon, which has made rapid progress across central, western and eastern India over the last two days, is expected to reach Delhi and parts of Haryana and Punjab within the next two to three days.
An official from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday confirmed that Delhi is likely to see the arrival of the monsoon by 22 June, which is earlier than the usual date of 30 June.
According to the IMD's extended-range forecast, rainfall is expected across several parts of northwest India, including Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, East Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. This wet spell is expected to last from 20 to 25 June.
The southwest monsoon this year made an early arrival over Kerala on 24 May—the earliest since 2009, when it arrived on 23 May. Aided by strong low-pressure systems in both the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, it quickly moved through central Maharashtra (including Mumbai) and reached the entire northeast by 29 May.
However, the initial rapid progress hit a long pause, lasting from 29 May to 16 June, during which little advancement or rainfall was recorded.
Heatwaves due to lack of rain in early June
The pause in rainfall during early June caused a sharp rise in temperatures, resulting in heatwave conditions across large parts of northwest and central India in the second week of June.
The monsoon picked up pace again between 16 and 18 June, following the formation of two low-pressure systems on 17 June—one over West Bengal and another over Gujarat, located on opposite sides of the country.
Traditionally, the monsoon reaches Kerala by 1 June, arrives in Mumbai by 11 June and covers the entire country by 8 July. It begins to retreat from northwest India around 17 September and completely withdraws by 15 October.
Meteorologists caution that the timing of the monsoon's arrival does not necessarily reflect the total seasonal rainfall. 'An early or delayed arrival in Kerala or Mumbai does not necessarily indicate similar progress in other parts of the country,' they explained.
They added that the monsoon is shaped by a mix of global, regional and local factors, which makes it highly variable.
Forecast: Above-normal rainfall likely in most areas
In its May forecast, the IMD said that India is expected to receive 106 per cent of the long-period average (LPA) rainfall, which is 87 cm for the June–September season. Rainfall between 96 and 104 per cent of the LPA is considered 'normal'. Hence, this year's forecast suggests above-normal rainfall across most regions.
Most parts of the country are likely to receive above-average rainfall, with the exception of Ladakh, nearby areas of Himachal Pradesh, the northeast, and certain parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha. Additionally, a few scattered areas in Punjab, Haryana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu may experience lower-than-normal rainfall.
The monsoon is vital to India's agriculture, which supports around 42 per cent of the population and contributes 18.2 per cent to the national GDP. It also plays a crucial role in refilling reservoirs, which are essential for drinking water and electricity generation across the country.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Mumbai afternoon-shift schools closed amid heavy rains; roads waterlogged, trains delayed as orange alert in effect
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared a holiday for all schools in the city following heavy rainfall on Monday. Afternoon-shift schools will remain closed, BMC officials confirmed. Independence Day 2025 Modi signals new push for tech independence with local chips Before Trump, British used tariffs to kill Indian textile Bank of Azad Hind: When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose gave India its own currency The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Mumbai, warning of heavy to very heavy rains across the metropolis. The alert is expected to continue until Tuesday, with the agency urging residents to take necessary precautions. The downpour has led to waterlogging in low-lying areas such as Andheri Subway and Lokhandwala Complex, slowing down traffic and causing visibility issues for motorists. Local trains, a vital mode of transport in the city, were reported to run late by 15 to 20 minutes, according to PTI. The civic body has advised residents to stay indoors unless necessary and shared the emergency helpline number 1916 for urgent assistance. 'The IMD has warned of extremely heavy rains in Mumbai for the next three to four hours. All citizens are requested to take appropriate precautions,' a BMC statement said. With the heavy rainfall expected to continue, authorities have asked commuters and residents to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel, and keep updated with weather forecasts and official advisories. Live Events Mumbai forecast for the week ahead According to IMD's five-day forecast, wet conditions will continue through the week, forcing residents to brace for disruptions. Data shared by noted that 'these weather conditions are expected to persist throughout the week, requiring residents to maintain necessary precautions and adaptations to their daily routines.' Monday: 47.6 mm rain; temperatures between 25.2°C and 26°C Tuesday: Heavy showers, 119.61 mm; winds up to 37.4 km/h Wednesday: 93.32 mm rain; winds peaking at 39.2 km/h Thursday: Rainfall eases to 22.8 mm; maximum temperature 27.7°C Friday: Light showers, only 3.88 mm; 26.3°C to 28°C Saturday: Moderate showers return with 7.1 mm expected
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Trains running late, roads waterlogged as overnight rain batters Mumbai; IMD issues red alert until noon
Mumbai woke up to yet another day of torrential downpour Monday, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red nowcast warning, the most severe level of weather alert, until around noon. The rain triggered waterlogging across several pockets of the city, affecting traffic and train services during peak travel hours. IMD data shows that between Sunday and Monday morning, the suburban Santacruz station received 99 mm rainfall while the Colaba coastal observatory registered 38 mm rainfall. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) automatic weather stations, between 8 am Sunday and 6 am Monday, the heaviest rainfall was recorded in the eastern suburbs, which clocked in an average of 60.57 mm, followed by 52.30 mm in the western suburbs and 45 mm in the island city division. Waterlogging was also reported near Kurla railway station, Andheri's D N Nagar, Dadar, Hindmata junction, besides other low-lying areas. Due to the heavy rain, local trains were also running 10 minutes late on both the Central and Western lines. The red nowcast warning for Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts is in effect until 11.50 am. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)'s Sachet portal, a platform to share real-time, geo-targeted disaster alerts and warnings, also placed Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban and Raigad districts under a red warning until noon. According to meteorologists, heavy rain is likely to continue unabated over the next few days. The IMD placed Mumbai and Thane districts under an orange alert, the level just below red alert in terms of severity, until at least Tuesday, following which the intensity of showers is likely to recede to 'heavy rain'.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Red alert for coastal districts as heavy rain batters North Andhra Pradesh
VISAKHAPATNAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Amaravati Centre has issued a Red Alert for several North Coastal Andhra Pradesh districts on Monday, forecasting very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places. According to the IMD, Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Anakapalle, Kakinada, East Godavari, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, Eluru, West Godavari, NTR, and Guntur districts are likely to experience extremely heavy rainfall. An orange alert has been issued for Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam, Vizianagaram, Krishna, Palnadu, Bapatla, Prakasam, and Nandyal districts, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in one or two places. A yellow alert is issued for SPSR Nellore, Kurnool, Anantapur, YSR Kadapa, Tirupati, and Chittoor districts, where isolated heavy rainfall is likely. On Tuesday, a Yellow Alert will remain in effect for parts of north coastal Andhra, including Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitarama Raju, and Eluru districts. Meanwhile, several parts of the State received heavy rainfall on Sunday. According to the data, the highest rainfall was reported from Bheemunipatnam in Visakhapatnam district, which received 153.75 mm of rain, followed by Paradesipalem in Visakhapatnam Rural with 142.25 mm, Ramireddi Palle in Kadapa district with 137.5 mm, Bheemili with 134 mm and Paderu in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district with 133.75 mm. These figures reflect intense showers across north coastal Andhra and parts of Rayalaseema. Educational institutions in Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitarama Raju district, Parvathipuram Manyam, will remain closed on Monday. The State Disaster Management Authority has advised district administrations to remain on alert, particularly in vulnerable and low-lying areas. Home and Disaster Management Minister Vangalapudi Anitha instructed officials to set up control rooms, monitor river inflows, and deploy emergency teams if necessary. GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg reviewed waste clearance and drainage operations at Errigedda, where accumulated debris caused waterlogging. He directed staff to keep machinery functional and respond promptly to complaints.
