When Is Monsoon Likely to Arrive in Delhi

New Delhi: The North and Northwest regions have been reeling under severe heatwave conditions since the start of May, with maximum temperature sustaining around 45 to 47 degrees Celsius in the plains of North India. 

With an early onset over Kerala, the southwest monsoon has advanced until Maharashtra, with temperature soaring in the northern plains, including the national capital. 

Usually, the June-September southwest monsoon brings more than 70 per cent of India's annual rainfall. It arrives over the Andaman Sea in the third week of May and progresses towards the states through Kerala. The normal date of its onset over Kerala is June 1. 

After causing a wet spell in Kerala, it enters Central India at a rapid pace and then slows down. Normally, it arrives in North Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and adjoining areas by the end of June, following which it covers the entire country in the next two weeks. 

Pre-Monsoon Activities in Delhi 

Weather experts suggested that Delhi and its adjoining area could get a temporary sigh of relief from the blistering heat with an ongoing western disturbance in the next 24-48 hours. The phenomenon will alter the wind pattern, prompting pre-monsoon activities within the next few days. 

In the coming days, the Bay of Bengal Monsoon could also gain strength after a temporary subdued progression. Such resurgence will likely usher in pre-monsoon activities across West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, prompting heavy rainfall. 

Delhi Monsoon Arrival By This Date 

The monsoon activities will be witnessed in Delhi and adjoining areas around June 30, said Dr Naresh Kumar, an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist. 

He said that an ‘orange alert’ had been issued in the national capital amid scorching heat, but the situation has improved from ‘red alert' on Tuesday. He added that dust storms and light-intensity rainfall could be seen in the city today, June 19.    

“For Punjab, Haryana and Delhi NCR, we have issued an orange alert but for West Uttar Pradesh we have issued a red alert for the next 2 days, there is a red alert for Uttar Pradesh as well today. In Delhi NCR, the temperature is expected to be around 40 degrees C. Monsoon is expected to hit Delhi NCR around 30th June.” 

Below Normal Rain In June

As most parts of northern India continue to reel under intense heatwave, the Met Department said that the country will witness below-normal monsoon rainfall in June. Below-normal rainfall is anticipated in many areas of northwest and adjoining central India, as well as some parts of northeast India.

The national capital on Tuesday recorded a minimum temperature of 33.8 degrees Celsius, six notches above the season's average. The weather department has predicted mainly clear sky and heatwave to severe heatwave conditions and strong surface winds in the coming days.