Maharashtra's Monsoon Stalls as Delhi Prepares for Light Rain

Wait for Monsoon Prolongs in Maharashtra, Intermittent Rain Likely to Continue in Delhi

The southwest monsoon, which had advanced rapidly across large parts of India, has now stalled over Maharashtra, leaving the state waiting for further rainfall. Meanwhile, Delhi is expected to experience light rain and thunderstorms over the next few days, offering some respite from the heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also forecast below-normal monsoon rainfall this year due to El Nino conditions.

According to the IMD, the monsoon’s progress in Maharashtra has been hindered by the absence of favourable large-scale weather systems. While the monsoon entered parts of South Konkan and South Madhya Maharashtra on June 8, its advance has significantly slowed since then. Weak southwesterly winds over the Arabian Sea have reduced moisture transport to Maharashtra’s coast and interior regions, further stalling the monsoon. Additionally, a weakened cross-equatorial flow over the western Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea has limited the availability of monsoon moisture.

The IMD has also highlighted the lack of key weather systems, such as low-pressure areas, cyclonic circulations, or an active offshore trough along the west coast, which are typically essential for the monsoon’s northward movement. As a result, much of Maharashtra is expected to see isolated rainfall over the next four to five days. However, weather models suggest that rainfall along the Konkan coast could increase around June 24-25, potentially aiding the monsoon’s revival.

This year, the southwest monsoon had an early onset, reaching Kerala on May 22, nearly a week ahead of its usual date of June 1. It then advanced rapidly across southern, eastern, and central India, covering large parts of the country by mid-June. However, regions such as Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and parts of western Gujarat are still awaiting the monsoon’s arrival.

In Delhi, intermittent rain over the past couple of weeks has brought some relief from the extreme heat. The IMD has forecast light rain and thunderstorms for the national capital on Thursday, with similar conditions expected over the next two days. On Thursday morning, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 27.9°C, slightly above the seasonal average, while the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 38°C. The city’s air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 143 recorded at 9 am.

Looking ahead, Delhi is likely to experience partly cloudy skies with intermittent rain, thunderstorms, and lightning through June 20. Strong winds of 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, may accompany thunderstorms on June 20. Meanwhile, widespread rainfall is expected across Northeast India between June 18 and June 23, with heavy to very heavy rain likely in Assam, Meghalaya, and other northeastern states.

Elsewhere in eastern India, Bihar and Odisha are under watch for heavy rain and thunderstorms, while Jharkhand may experience thundersqualls with wind speeds of up to 70 kmph. Despite active rain systems in several regions, heatwave conditions persist in parts of central and northern India, including Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Telangana, Bihar, and Odisha.

Temperatures in central India are expected to rise by 2-3°C until June 19 before stabilising, while Maharashtra may see a gradual cooling trend after June 20 as rainfall activity increases.