The monsoon’s arrival in India this year was earlier than usual, with its onset on May 24th. However, the monsoon’s progress was temporarily delayed. The southwest monsoon has now picked up pace again following a brief pause. Many states are looking forward to the monsoon to alleviate the intense heat.
Pre-monsoon showers are occurring in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and other states, but the monsoon is yet to fully arrive. The weather department anticipates the monsoon reaching Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal in the next two days. Delhi is likely to experience the monsoon by the week’s end.
**Monsoon Progresses to Khargone, Madhya Pradesh**
On Monday, the monsoon moved past Mumbai, reaching Vadodara in Gujarat and Khargone in Madhya Pradesh, approximately 425 kilometers away. It has also advanced into Vidarbha, Maharashtra, parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Over the next two days, the monsoon is likely to progress further into the remaining regions of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, while also reaching UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
**Reduced Rainfall in Early June**
By the end of the week, the monsoon is likely to arrive in Delhi, Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. Himachal Pradesh is expected to receive the monsoon between June 21-23 and Punjab by June 30. Although the monsoon commenced on May 24th and advanced through southern states, reaching Mumbai in Maharashtra and all northeastern states within two days, it stalled after May 26th. This led to below-average rainfall during the initial two weeks of June.
**Factors Influencing Monsoon Movement**
A cyclonic circulation in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Maharashtra is heading towards Gujarat. Another cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal is also moving westwards. This will traverse Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh before reaching Rajasthan.