New Delhi: The southwest monsoon, which resumed its advance after nearly three weeks of stagnation, is expected to reach Delhi by June 22 — a full eight days ahead of its usual onset date of June 30, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Backed by fresh low-pressure systems in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, the monsoon made rapid progress over central, western and eastern India in the past two days, and will soon cover parts of Haryana and Punjab as well.
Between June 20 and 25, widespread rainfall is forecast across northwest India, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, east Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, IMD’s extended-range forecast said.
The 2025 monsoon season began with record pace, hitting Kerala as early as May 24 — the earliest onset over the mainland since 2009. Within days, the monsoon had reached Mumbai and the northeast. However, from May 29 to June 16, it stalled, triggering intense heatwave conditions across large parts of northern and central India due to prolonged dry weather.
Meteorologists attribute the recent acceleration to two low-pressure systems that developed on June 17 — one over West Bengal and another over Gujarat — energizing the monsoon’s push northward.
The IMD reiterates that early monsoon onset does not guarantee above-normal seasonal rainfall across the country, as the system’s performance is subject to a range of global and regional climatic factors.
Still, the seasonal forecast remains optimistic. The IMD expects India to receive 106% of the Long Period Average (LPA) of 87 cm rainfall during the June-September monsoon window. Rainfall between 96–104% of the LPA is considered normal.
Above-average rainfall is projected for most of the country, though parts of Ladakh, the northeast, and states like Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha may see below-normal precipitation. Some pockets in Punjab, Haryana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu may also receive less rain than usual.
Monsoon rains are critical for India’s predominantly agrarian economy, which supports over 42% of the population and contributes more than 18% to the GDP. It also helps replenish key reservoirs vital for drinking water and hydroelectric power across the country.
