Delhi’s Early Downpour: After sweltering heat, Delhi finally welcomed the monsoon’s embrace on Sunday, marking an early onset for the region. Forecasters predict significant downpours for the capital and other parts of North India in the coming days.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, June 30, 2025: India’s lifegiving Southwest Monsoon has made a remarkable and swift advance, covering the entire country by June 29, a full nine days ahead of its normal schedule of July 8. This unprecedented progress, a rare meteorological convergence, has brought much-needed respite from the scorching summer heat, particularly to North India, while the Northeast continues to grapple with intense rainfall.
This marks the earliest full-country coverage since 2020, when monsoon onset reached all of India by June 26. According to IMD, such a rapid nationwide monsoon advance—completing coverage nine days early—has occurred only 10 times in the past 65 years
The national capital, Delhi, finally welcomed the monsoon’s embrace on Sunday, June 29, marking its arrival two days after the usual June 27 date. While individual stations recorded varying amounts, with Palam logging the highest precipitation, the city experienced widespread light to moderate rainfall, bringing down maximum temperatures significantly. From scorching highs, Delhi’s mercury settled at a comfortable 32.8°C on Sunday, a welcome five degrees below normal.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has confirmed that the monsoon’s advance into Delhi simultaneously marked its coverage of the entire country. This swift progression, occurring only a handful of times in the last 25 years, has been fueled by favorable atmospheric conditions. Forecasters predict continued light to moderate showers for Delhi over the coming days, with potential for heavier spells, especially on June 30, which is expected to be the wettest day of the week.
Southwest #monsoon covered entire country on June 29th, 9 days before the normal date of July 8th. Moderate to heavy #Rain may continue over North, Central, and East India including #Delhi, #UP, #Punjab &# Haryana. during next 3-4 days. #DelhiRains @SkymetWeather @JATINSKYMET pic.twitter.com/NpanUprYvM
— Mahesh Palawat (@Mpalawat) June 29, 2025
Beyond Delhi, the monsoon has firmly established itself across the vast expanse of North India, including Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. This widespread onset comes as a relief to the agricultural sector, which heavily relies on the monsoon for the Kharif cropping season. Overall, between June 1 and June 29, Northwest India has already recorded a significant 37% excess in rainfall, indicating a strong start to the season for the region. The IMD’s long-range forecast for Northwest India projects a normal monsoon for the entire season.
Northeast India: Already Soaked, More Rain on the Horizon
While North India celebrates the monsoon’s arrival, the Northeast has been under its influence for much longer, experiencing significant rainfall since late May. The region, encompassing states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, has been grappling with ongoing moderate to heavy rainfall.
Despite the early and widespread national coverage, East and Northeast India currently show a cumulative rainfall deficiency of around 17% until June 29. However, this does not indicate a weakening of the monsoon’s intensity for the coming days. The IMD has issued alerts for continued heavy to very heavy rainfall over Northeast India during the next seven days, with isolated extremely heavy spells specifically forecast over Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland between July 1 and July 4.
The persistent downpours in the Northeast pose ongoing challenges, including the risk of floods and landslides, which are common occurrences in the region during the monsoon season. Authorities and disaster response teams remain on high alert to manage potential exigencies.
In summary, the 2025 Southwest Monsoon has begun with remarkable vigor, embracing the entire Indian subcontinent ahead of schedule. While Delhi and North India revel in the much-anticipated rains and a positive outlook for the season, the Northeast prepares for continued intense precipitation, highlighting the diverse and sometimes challenging nature of India’s annual monsoon.
INDIA MONSOON 2025: RAINFALL OVERVIEW (As of June 30, 2025)
OVERALL MONSOON PROGRESS:
- Covered entire country: June 29, 2025 (9 days ahead of normal July 8)
- All India Seasonal Rainfall (June-Sept Forecast): 106% of LPA (Above Normal)
- All India Cumulative Rainfall (June 1-25): +7% above LPA
DELHI & NORTH INDIA:
- Monsoon Arrival in Delhi: June 29, 2025 (2 days after normal June 27)
- Delhi Rainfall (June 28): Light showers (e.g., Safdarjung 5.1mm, Palam 13.6mm)
- Delhi Forecast: Heavy rainfall expected June 30 (up to 59.64mm); Moderate showers early July.
- Northwest India Cumulative Rainfall (June 1-29): +37% above LPA
- Northwest India Forecast: Normal rainfall for the season; Heavy to very heavy rain likely for next 7 days in parts of HP, Uttarakhand, UP, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan.
NORTHEAST INDIA:
- Current Status: Ongoing moderate to heavy rainfall.
- Cumulative Rainfall (June 1-29): -17% (Deficient)
- Seasonal Forecast (June-Sept): Below Normal (<94% of LPA)
- Short-term Forecast (Next 7 days): Heavy to very heavy rainfall likely, with isolated extremely heavy spells over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland between July 1-4.
- Pre-Monsoon Impact (Early June): Widespread floods & landslides, affecting thousands and causing casualties in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, etc. (e.g., 6.33 lakh people affected in 21 Assam districts by June 4)
