A spell of rain and thunderstorms may have cooled temperatures across Delhi-NCR this week, but the arrival of the southwest monsoon is still a few weeks away. According to the latest forecast from the India Meteorological Department, the monsoon is expected to reach Delhi and neighbouring NCR cities between June 25 and June 30.
The projection comes shortly after the monsoon began over Kerala on June 4, arriving later than both its normal schedule and earlier forecasts. Despite the delayed start, weather officials remain optimistic about its overall progress across the country during the coming weeks.
The forecast offers the clearest indication yet of when residents in northern India can expect sustained monsoon rainfall after weeks of intense summer heat.
Delhi-NCR expected to receive monsoon by month-end
According to IMD's projected advance map, Delhi is likely to witness the onset of monsoon during the final week of June. The same timeline applies to neighbouring NCR cities, including Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad.
According to the Hindustan Times, the weather system is also expected to move into parts of Haryana, Punjab and the union territory of Chandigarh around the same period. Parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh may also begin receiving monsoon rainfall as the system advances northward.
Last year, the monsoon reached Delhi on June 29, slightly later than the historical average onset date of June 27.
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Rain and thunderstorms to continue before monsoon arrival
According to the Hindustan Times, for Friday, the IMD has issued a yellow alert for Delhi, forecasting light rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning through various parts of the day. Gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 kmph are also expected.
While no formal alert has been issued for Noida and Ghaziabad, weather officials have predicted partly cloudy conditions along with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms. Gurugram remains under a yellow alert, with forecasts indicating thunderstorms, lightning and strong surface winds.
These conditions follow Thursday's widespread rainfall, which brought temperatures down significantly and provided much-needed relief from prolonged hot weather across the region.
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Monsoon advances across southern and western India
According to the Hindustan Times, the southwest monsoon has continued its gradual advance after entering Kerala earlier this week. According to the IMD, it has now covered the entire Lakshadweep region and extended into parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as well as adjoining areas of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
Weather conditions remain favourable for further advancement over the next few days. The monsoon is expected to spread across more parts of western and southern India, including Goa, sections of Maharashtra and parts of Andhra Pradesh.
