Monsoon Likely to Reach Most Parts of Northwest India by June 25, Says IMD
New Delhi, June 13 – The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated that the southwest monsoon, which regained momentum this week, is expected to reach most parts of northwest India, including Delhi, well ahead of its normal schedule, likely by June 25.
The monsoon made an early onset over Kerala on May 24, the earliest since 2009 when it had arrived on May 23. Strong low-pressure systems over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal accelerated its progress, allowing it to cover regions like Mumbai, parts of central Maharashtra, and the entire northeastern belt by May 29.
However, from May 28–29 to June 10–11, the monsoon saw a brief pause before becoming active again. The delay in rainfall at the beginning of June led to a sharp rise in temperatures, resulting in severe heatwave conditions over large parts of northwest and central India from June 8–9.
According to IMD’s extended forecast, the monsoon is expected to cover the remaining parts of central and eastern India, along with portions of northwest India, by June 18. It is projected to advance into most regions of northwest India between June 19 and 25. An IMD official noted that Delhi could receive the monsoon by June 22 or 23, earlier than the usual onset date of June 27.
Meteorologists emphasized that the timing of the monsoon’s onset is not directly linked to the overall seasonal rainfall. An early or delayed arrival in Kerala or Mumbai does not necessarily indicate similar trends across the rest of the country. The monsoon is influenced by a complex interplay of global, regional, and local factors, leading to significant variability.
In May, IMD forecasted that India would receive 106 percent of the long-period average (LPA) rainfall of 87 cm during the June–September monsoon season. Rainfall between 96 and 104 percent of the LPA is considered ‘normal’.
Barring areas such as Ladakh, parts of Himachal Pradesh, the Northeast, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha, the majority of the country is expected to receive above-normal rainfall. However, isolated regions in Punjab, Haryana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu may record below-normal precipitation.
The monsoon is vital to India’s agriculture sector, which supports nearly 42 percent of the population and contributes around 18.2 percent to the country’s GDP.
