By The Sampadak Express
The southwest monsoon covered Delhi on Sunday, arriving a day earlier than the normal date of June 30, and has advanced over the remaining parts of the country nine days ahead of the usual July 8 timeline, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed.
According to IMD data, this marks the fastest monsoon progression across India since 2020, when it had covered the entire country by June 26.
Typically, the monsoon begins its journey over the Indian mainland with its onset in Kerala around June 1 and gradually reaches the entire country by July 8. The withdrawal process generally begins from northwest India by September 17 and is completed by October 15.
This year, the monsoon made an early onset in Kerala on May 24 the earliest since 2009 when it had arrived on May 23.
Aided by strong low-pressure systems over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, the monsoon advanced rapidly across large parts of the country. By May 29, it had already covered central Maharashtra, including Mumbai, and the entire northeastern region.
However, progress stalled for nearly 18 days between May 29 and June 16 due to meteorological conditions. The final leg of its journey particularly towards Delhi and surrounding areas was delayed because of prevailing anti-cyclonic winds that obstructed monsoon currents.
Despite the temporary stagnation, the monsoon regained momentum and has now successfully spread across the entire country well ahead of the typical schedule.
