Monsoon arrives in India: Heavy rain lashes Delhi, Mumbai; to spread to northern, western states | India News

NEW DELHI: The southwest monsoon finally arrived in Delhi on Thursday, five days after its normal onset date of June 27, bringing widespread rain and much-needed relief from weeks of heat and humidity. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the monsoon has now advanced across the national capital along with large parts of northwestern India, while extremely heavy rainfall is expected to continue over Maharashtra, Goa, Konkan, south Gujarat and parts of central India over the next several days.The weather department said the southwest monsoon advanced further on July 2 into the remaining parts of Uttar Pradesh, the entire National Capital Territory of Delhi, most parts of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, additional areas of Gujarat and parts of Rajasthan.

With Thursday’s advance, the monsoon is now close to covering the entire country, nearly a week ahead of its normal completion date of July 8. According to the IMD, conditions remain favourable for the monsoon to spread into the remaining parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan over the next two to three days.

Delhi gets first July monsoon onset since 2021

The arrival of the monsoon marked a significant weather transition for Delhi after several weeks of extreme heat, dust storms and pre-monsoon thunderstorms.

According to the IMD, this is the first time since 2021 that the southwest monsoon has reached Delhi in July. In 2021, the monsoon arrived on July 13.In comparison, the monsoon reached Delhi on:

The weather office has forecast generally cloudy skies, moderate rainfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds across Delhi-NCR through the day. A yellow alert remains in effect for the national capital.The showers have already brought a noticeable drop in temperatures. Delhi recorded a maximum temperature between 33°C and 34.8°C on Wednesday, significantly lower than temperatures recorded during the recent heatwave. The IMD expects maximum temperatures to remain between 32°C and 34°C over the next 24 hours.

Monsoon advances rapidly across North India

The advance into Delhi comes as the southwest monsoon continues to make rapid progress across northern India.On July 1, the monsoon covered the entire state of Himachal Pradesh, six days later than its normal onset date of June 25. It also spread across the remaining parts of Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, while entering large parts of Haryana and Punjab.IMD officials said the remaining parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan are expected to come under the monsoon within the next two to three days.

Senior IMD scientist Dr Naresh Yadav said the weather system will continue moving northward while producing widespread rainfall across several states.He warned that extremely heavy rainfall is likely over the Konkan region, Goa and south Gujarat during the next four to five days. The IMD has issued a red alert for these regions.Very heavy rainfall is also expected over Odisha and parts of central India.

Rainfall shifts from relief to risk

While the arrival of the monsoon has ended prolonged heatwave conditions across much of north India, it is simultaneously increasing the flood risk in several parts of western and southern India.Heavy rainfall has already been reported across Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Konkan, coastal Maharashtra and Goa, with several low-lying areas experiencing waterlogging.An orange alert remains in place for Mumbai, while Ratnagiri is under a red alert because of the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall.IMD officials said authorities, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the State Disaster Management Authority, have been alerted to the possibility of flooding in vulnerable areas.The changing weather pattern reflects the strengthening southwest monsoon circulation, which is now drawing large volumes of moisture from both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal into the Indian mainland.

Why Mumbai, Konkan and south India are witnessing heavy rain

While Delhi welcomed the arrival of the southwest monsoon, western and southern India are experiencing its most intense phase, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning of extremely heavy rainfall across parts of Maharashtra, Goa, Konkan and south Gujarat over the next several days.According to the IMD, a combination of favourable monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea, multiple upper air cyclonic circulations and an offshore trough running from south Gujarat to Karnataka is fuelling widespread rainfall along India’s west coast.The weather department has also said a low-pressure area is likely to form over the northwest Bay of Bengal around July 3. Once it develops, the system is expected to further strengthen rainfall activity across eastern and central India before moving inland.Senior IMD scientist Dr Naresh Yadav said the Konkan belt, Goa and south Gujarat are likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall over the next four to five days.A red alert has been issued for several parts of the Konkan coast and south Gujarat, while very heavy rainfall is also expected over Odisha and parts of central India.

Mumbai under orange alert

Mumbai has continued to receive widespread rainfall over the past 24 hours, with several weather stations recording heavy to very heavy showers.IMD scientist Bikram Singh said the city is likely to witness more heavy rainfall over the coming days, prompting the department to issue an orange alert.Authorities have warned that intense spells of rain could trigger waterlogging in low-lying areas, disrupt road traffic and slow suburban train services.Neighbouring Ratnagiri remains under a red alert because of the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall, while parts of Thane, Palghar and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region have also witnessed widespread flooding.Heavy overnight showers inundated roads, flooded residential colonies and disrupted normal life in several areas. In Palghar district, educational institutions were closed after authorities declared a holiday in view of the severe weather.

Himachal, Uttarakhand brace for more rain

The southwest monsoon completed its advance across Himachal Pradesh on July 1, six days later than the state’s normal onset date.The IMD has forecast widespread rainfall across the hill state over the coming week, with heavy to very heavy rain expected at isolated places. A fresh western disturbance is also expected to influence northwest India from July 2, potentially enhancing rainfall activity across Himachal Pradesh.

The weather has already taken a heavy toll on the state.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, weather-related incidents between March 1 and June 30 claimed 128 lives and caused losses of nearly Rs 30 crore.Heavy rainfall has left dozens of roads blocked across Himachal Pradesh, with Mandi district among the worst affected.Neighbouring Uttarakhand has also entered an active monsoon phase.The IMD has issued orange alerts for heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of the state, prompting authorities to activate emergency response systems and intensify monitoring along the Char Dham Yatra routes.District administrations have stepped up surveillance of highways, pilgrimage routes and landslide-prone areas as rainfall is expected to intensify over the next few days.

Karnataka, Northeast continue to battle monsoon impact

The active monsoon has continued to affect southern and northeastern India.In Karnataka, three members of a family, including two girls, were killed after a rain-triggered landslide buried their home in Mangaluru following incessant overnight rainfall.In Arunachal Pradesh, authorities continue relief and rehabilitation efforts after flash floods and landslides caused widespread destruction over the past week. According to official figures, four people have died, 21 have been injured and two remain missing.The Centre has assured the state of support for relief operations and long-term flood mitigation measures.

What is driving the active monsoon?

Meteorologists say the current spell of widespread rainfall is being driven by several weather systems working simultaneously.An upper air cyclonic circulation persists over Punjab, while another is active over central Uttar Pradesh. A separate circulation over Saurashtra continues to strengthen moisture transport from the Arabian Sea.Meanwhile, the offshore trough extending from south Gujarat to Karnataka is helping sustain heavy rainfall along the west coast.The expected formation of a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal is likely to further increase rainfall over eastern, central and northern India during the coming days.Taken together, these systems are expected to keep monsoon activity vigorous across large parts of the country through the first week of July.