New Delhi, June 24 (IANS) The southwest monsoon is likely to reach Delhi around its normal onset date of June 27, offering much-awaited relief from the prevailing heat and humidity across the National Capital Region (NCR).

The monsoon has now firmly established itself over Bihar, bringing widespread rainfall across the state and raising an important question for millions of residents in North India.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the southwest monsoon entered parts of Bihar on June 11 and advanced further across the state on June 12. Since then, rainfall activity has remained active over eastern India, with the weather department forecasting heavy rainfall at isolated places in Bihar again on June 24.

For June 24, the IMD predicted widespread rainfall along the west coast and across parts of eastern and northeastern India. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in Konkan and Goa, Coastal Karnataka, Assam and Meghalaya, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.

The monsoon’s steady progress comes as large parts of north India continue to experience hot and humid weather conditions, leaving residents of Delhi and neighbouring cities eagerly awaiting relief.

Over the past few days, the monsoon has made significant advances. On June 22, it moved into additional parts of Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar. The weather system also reached Mumbai, marking a major milestone in its northward journey across the country.

The normal date for the onset of the southwest monsoon over Delhi is June 27. However, after the monsoon’s advance stalled for nearly two weeks earlier this month, some meteorologists now expect the national capital to miss its normal onset date, and it will likely get delayed until early July.

Despite these projections, the IMD has not officially revised Delhi’s monsoon onset date, nor has it indicated any significant delay extending into the second week of July.

Given the delayed arrival of the monsoon over Kerala, the period during which its advance stalled, and its relatively late onset over Mumbai, the possibility of a slight delay in reaching Delhi cannot be ruled out.

The timing of the monsoon’s arrival in Delhi-NCR will depend on the pace at which rain-bearing winds continue to advance across northwest India in the coming days. At present, the system is progressing steadily through central and eastern parts of the country.

Meteorologists note that the exact onset date over Delhi depends on several factors, including the strength of monsoon winds, moisture availability and prevailing atmospheric conditions over northwest India.

If current conditions remain favourable, Delhi could witness the arrival of the southwest monsoon around June 27. However, any disruption in its progress may push the onset date to between July 5 and July 8.

Meanwhile, Delhi and adjoining parts of the NCR witnessed a sudden spell of severe weather on Tuesday, as intense dust storms and powerful winds disrupted normal life and prompted the IMD to issue a Red Alert for at least three hours.

The weather department warned that adverse conditions could persist during the period, with wind speeds potentially reaching 100 kmph in isolated areas. Thunderstorms, lightning activity and light rainfall were also forecast across several parts of the region.

The dramatic change in weather began around 2:30 p.m., when the IMD issued urgent advisories for Delhi and neighbouring areas of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Soon after, strong gusts swept across the national capital, reducing visibility significantly as thick clouds of dust engulfed roads, open spaces and residential localities.

The weather event brought temporary relief from the intense heat that had gripped the region over the past few days. Meteorologists said above-normal temperatures had created favourable atmospheric conditions, leading to the build-up of energy that triggered the sudden storm activity.

Mumbai also received heavy rainfall overnight as the southwest monsoon finally established itself over the country’s financial capital. The IMD issued an orange alert for three hours for Mumbai and Palghar early on Wednesday as heavy showers continued across the region.

The weather department has warned of thunderstorms, lightning, intense to very intense rainfall and winds ranging between 40 and 60 kmph in parts of Maharashtra.

–IANS

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