Southwest monsoon covers the entire country early, but reaches Delhi late
The southwest monsoon covered the entire country on Sunday (June 29), significantly ahead of its normal schedule of July 8. However, in Delhi, its arrival was slightly delayed from the usual onset date of June 27.
Last year, the monsoon reached the national capital on June 28, while in 2022 it arrived earlier, on June 25.
In recent days, Delhi has witnessed a steady influx of moisture-laden southeasterly winds, which enhanced cloud cover and brought scattered to fairly widespread rainfall across the region.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there have been only a few instances since 1960 when the monsoon has advanced over both Delhi and the entire country on the same day. One such occurrence was on July 2, 1967. Most such instances have taken place in July – in 1968, 1987, 1990, 2003, and 2011. Only once before, in 2013, did the monsoon cover Delhi and the entire country simultaneously in the month of June – on the 16th.
Earlier, IMD officials had attributed the delayed arrival over Delhi, despite persistent cloud cover, to an anticyclonic circulation that was temporarily obstructing the monsoon's advance. They noted that the system would weaken soon, allowing the monsoon to progress.
Till Saturday, the Northern Limit of Monsoon passed through Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Jhunjhunu, Bharatpur, Rampur, Sonipat, and Anup Nagar, as per the IMD.
The Met office has issued a yellow alert for Monday, forecasting light to moderate rain or thunderstorms accompanied by lightning in Delhi and surrounding areas. No alerts have been issued for the subsequent days, but rainfall is still expected. Daytime temperatures are likely to fall and remain between 26 and 31 degree Celsius through the week.
In its extended range forecast valid up to July 10, the IMD has predicted above-normal rainfall in Delhi. The normal rainfall for the month is 209.7 mm. Between July 3 and 10, the department stated, 'The monsoon trough is likely to be active and near its normal position during most days of the week. As a result, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls is likely over many parts of northwest India.'
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