Monsoon enters Bihar: How long does Delhi-NCR need to wait for rain to hit?
The southwest monsoon has firmly established itself over Bihar and continues advancing across India. But will it arrive in Delhi-NCR on time?
The southwest monsoon has now firmly established itself over Bihar, bringing widespread rainfall to the state and raising a key question for millions in north India: when will the monsoon finally reach Delhi-NCR?
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon entered parts of Bihar on June 11 and advanced further across the state on June 12.
Since then, rainfall activity has remained active over eastern India, with the IMD forecasting heavy rainfall at isolated places throughout Bihar again on June 24.
The monsoon's progress comes as large parts of north India continue to grapple with hot and humid conditions, leaving residents of Delhi and neighbouring cities eagerly awaiting relief.
MONSOON MAKES PROGRESS
The monsoon has made significant progress over the past few days. On June 22, it advanced into more parts of Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar. The weather system has also reached Mumbai, marking a major milestone in its northward journey.
For June 24, the IMD has forecast widespread rainfall along the west coast and over parts of eastern and northeastern India, with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely in Konkan and Goa, Coastal Karnataka, Assam and Meghalaya, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.
The weather agency has said conditions remain favourable for further advancement of the monsoon over additional parts of the country during the next few days.
WHEN WILL MONSOON REACH DELHI?
The normal date for the onset of the southwest monsoon over Delhi is June 27. However, after the monsoon's advance stalled for nearly two weeks earlier this month, some meteorologists now expect the national capital to miss its normal onset date, and will likely be delayed until early July.
That said, the India Meteorological Department has not officially revised the onset date for Delhi, nor has it indicated that the monsoon will be delayed into the second week of July.
Considering the delayed arrival of southwest monsoon over Kerala, the period it had stalled, and then a delayed arrival over Mumbai, the prospect of Delhi having to wait a bit longer for rains remains realistic.
The timing of its arrival over Delhi-NCR will depend on how quickly the rain-bearing winds progress across northwest India during the coming days. Presently, the monsoon is continuing the northward journey steadily, along with its progress across central and eastern India.
However, the exact onset date over Delhi depends on several factors, including the strength of monsoon winds, moisture availability and atmospheric conditions over northwest India.
At present, the IMD has forecast thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds over Delhi and surrounding areas, but these pre-monsoon weather events should not be confused with the formal onset of the monsoon.
If current conditions remain favourable, Delhi could see the southwest monsoon arrive around its normal onset date of June 27, but if progress is disturbed by any of the various factors at play, Delhi is going to have to wait until at least July 5 to July 8, 2026.
The southwest monsoon has now firmly established itself over Bihar, bringing widespread rainfall to the state and raising a key question for millions in north India: when will the monsoon finally reach Delhi-NCR?
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon entered parts of Bihar on June 11 and advanced further across the state on June 12.
Since then, rainfall activity has remained active over eastern India, with the IMD forecasting heavy rainfall at isolated places throughout Bihar again on June 24.
The monsoon's progress comes as large parts of north India continue to grapple with hot and humid conditions, leaving residents of Delhi and neighbouring cities eagerly awaiting relief.
MONSOON MAKES PROGRESS
The monsoon has made significant progress over the past few days. On June 22, it advanced into more parts of Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar. The weather system has also reached Mumbai, marking a major milestone in its northward journey.
For June 24, the IMD has forecast widespread rainfall along the west coast and over parts of eastern and northeastern India, with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely in Konkan and Goa, Coastal Karnataka, Assam and Meghalaya, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.
The weather agency has said conditions remain favourable for further advancement of the monsoon over additional parts of the country during the next few days.
WHEN WILL MONSOON REACH DELHI?
The normal date for the onset of the southwest monsoon over Delhi is June 27. However, after the monsoon's advance stalled for nearly two weeks earlier this month, some meteorologists now expect the national capital to miss its normal onset date, and will likely be delayed until early July.
That said, the India Meteorological Department has not officially revised the onset date for Delhi, nor has it indicated that the monsoon will be delayed into the second week of July.
Considering the delayed arrival of southwest monsoon over Kerala, the period it had stalled, and then a delayed arrival over Mumbai, the prospect of Delhi having to wait a bit longer for rains remains realistic.
The timing of its arrival over Delhi-NCR will depend on how quickly the rain-bearing winds progress across northwest India during the coming days. Presently, the monsoon is continuing the northward journey steadily, along with its progress across central and eastern India.
However, the exact onset date over Delhi depends on several factors, including the strength of monsoon winds, moisture availability and atmospheric conditions over northwest India.
At present, the IMD has forecast thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds over Delhi and surrounding areas, but these pre-monsoon weather events should not be confused with the formal onset of the monsoon.
If current conditions remain favourable, Delhi could see the southwest monsoon arrive around its normal onset date of June 27, but if progress is disturbed by any of the various factors at play, Delhi is going to have to wait until at least July 5 to July 8, 2026.
