New Delhi: The southwest monsoon is becoming more active across India, bringing widespread rainfall to several regions while leaving others struggling
with heat and rainfall deficits.
Monsoon in India
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over the Northeast on Friday, with Assam and Meghalaya likely to receive the heaviest showers.
Heavy rain is also forecast for Arunachal Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, coastal Andhra Pradesh, coastal Karnataka, Konkan, Goa and Madhya Maharashtra. Moist winds from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are strengthening the monsoon, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides in hilly areas.
The IMD has warned of thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds across several states, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal. Bihar could witness thundersqualls with wind speeds of up to 60 kmph.
Despite the advancing monsoon, eastern Uttar Pradesh remains under a heatwave warning. Banda recorded the country’s highest maximum temperature at 44.2 degrees Celsius on June 24, showing that several regions are still awaiting meaningful rainfall.
Tamil Nadu rains
Tamil Nadu is expected to receive heavy rain in more than 10 districts, including Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Theni, Dindigul, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari from June 28. Chennai is also likely to witness light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms. During the last 24 hours, Thammampatty in Salem recorded the state’s highest rainfall at 4 cm, followed by 3 cm in Veppanthattai, Perambalur.
Uttarakhand monsoon
In Uttarakhand, the monsoon is expected to enter through the Kumaon region over the next three to four days, nearly a week later than normal. Heavy rainfall is likely from June 28 onwards, particularly in the Kumaon region.
Kerala monsoon
Kerala continues to face a difficult season. The state has recorded a 33 per cent rainfall deficit so far, with Wayanad reporting the highest shortfall at 64 per cent. Only four districts — Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur — have received normal rainfall.
IMD officials attributed the weak monsoon to El Niño conditions and the absence of any Bay of Bengal depression during June, warning that the deficit could affect farming, groundwater levels and drinking water supply.
Monsoon in Rajasthan
Rajasthan has also witnessed below-normal rainfall, although light showers were reported in several districts. Jaipur received 16.4 mm of rain, while Phalodi remained the hottest place in the state at 41.4 degrees Celsius.
The weather department expects the southwest monsoon to advance further into Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand over the next few days, bringing more widespread rainfall across the country.
