Slow monsoon progress till June end, says IMD

Monsoon rains have stalled across the northern Indian plains after rapidly drenching four-fifths of the country, and may not progress till the end of June, the weather office said on Tuesday, signalling a longer wait for Delhi, Haryana and parts of Rajasthan and Punjab for the season’s first showers.

A change in meteorological conditions has paused the monsoon in its tracks since June 19, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, adding that maximum temperatures are also set to increase in northern and central India. "Gradual rise in maximum temperatures by 3-4°C over most parts of northwest and adjoining Central India during the next three days and no significant change thereafter," IMD said in statement.

Heat conditions are expected to persist in Delhi till at least the end of the month, according to the weather office. The capital has seen temperatures in the range of 37°C to a little over 40 this entire month.


Till June 22, monsoon rains, which irrigate over 70% of the crops, have been plenty. Its swift progress has resulted in excessive rainfall (to the tune of 37%) across the country, buoyed mainly by a 60% above-normal precipitation in central India, which usually sees the monsoon setting in by mid-June.

The eastern India subdivision, comprising West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand, also saw a quick onset of the crucial weather system.