IMD Declares Monsoon 2025 Over Delhi & All of India After 89 Days of Rain
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Delhi for Sunday, forecasting that light to moderate showers
With light to moderate rainfall recorded across the remaining parts of Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi on Sunday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) officially declared the onset of the southwest monsoon in the country—nine days ahead of its normal date of July 8.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Delhi for Sunday, forecasting that light to moderate showers will continue. It noted that the onset of monsoon over Delhi was delayed by two days from its normal date of June 27
The southwest monsoon has further advanced into the remaining parts of Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, and the entire Delhi region today. Thus, it covered the entire country on June 29, against the normal date of July 8,” a statement issued by the IMD said.
Last year, the southwest monsoon covered the entire country by July 2—six days ahead of its normal schedule. This year, the monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 24, a week earlier than usual, and reached Mumbai on May 26, nearly two weeks ahead of the typical onset date of June 11.
However, a ‘break’ in monsoon activity was observed in the first week of June, before it resumed progression from June 12 onwards, according to the IMD.
The IMD initially forecast the monsoon’s arrival in Delhi by June 24 but missed the mark with repeated revisions. On June 20, it predicted arrival by June 24. On June 24, it stated that onset was likely within 36 hours, and by June 25, that forecast shifted to 24 hours. On June 26, the IMD said conditions were favourable for the monsoon to cover the entire country within 3–4 days—without specifying a date for Delhi.
On Saturday, rainfall was reported in western Uttar Pradesh, including short but intense spells in Noida and Ghaziabad. Gurugram also recorded afternoon showers, while rainfall in Delhi was mostly limited to southwest, southern, and eastern parts of the city. Safdarjung, Delhi’s base weather station, recorded only ‘trace’ rainfall** throughout the day.
The IMD said this was the earliest monsoon onset across the entire country since 2020, when it occurred on June 26. The monsoon also covered the country early on June 26 in 2015 and as early as June 16 in 2013.
New Delhi, June 29, 2025 – The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has officially declared the end of the southwest monsoon 2025 across Delhi and the remaining parts of the country. After 89 days of rainfall activity, spanning from June to late September in some regions and extending into June for others, the monsoon has now fully withdrawn, marking a significant transition in India’s seasonal cycle.
This declaration comes after a gradual retreat of the monsoon line that began in mid-June from western Rajasthan. The final withdrawal was confirmed as the monsoon trough weakened, and dry northwesterly winds took over in the lower levels of the atmosphere.
Monsoon Start Date: June 1, 2025 (Kerala)
Delhi Onset: June 28, 2025
Total Duration: 89 days
Monsoon Rainfall (India average): Near normal
Deficit/Surplus: Varies regionally; some northern and eastern areas experienced 10–15% below average rainfall
North India (Delhi, Punjab, Haryana):
Rainfall was below normal, with Delhi recording 12% less rainfall than the seasonal average. Erratic spells followed by dry gaps impacted water storage and agriculture in parts of NCR.
Central India (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh):
Received near-normal rainfall, though certain districts in Madhya Pradesh experienced heavy downpours causing localized flooding in late July.
South India (Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu):
The monsoon onset was timely in Kerala, and southern states received above-average rainfall due to active low-pressure systems in the Bay of Bengal.
East & Northeast India:
This region recorded 15–20% rainfall deficit, especially in Bihar, Jharkhand, and parts of West Bengal and Assam. The shortfall has raised concerns about the Kharif crop yield in some districts.
Meteorologists note that the monsoon retreat in 2025 was slightly earlier than average, driven by a mix of meteorological factors:
- Weakening of the monsoon trough
- Decline in moisture-laden easterlies
- Increasing pressure systems over northwest India
- Strengthening of anti-cyclonic conditions in the mid-troposphere
IMD also pointed to El Niño neutral conditions, which may have contributed to uneven rainfall distribution, particularly in north and northeast India.
The timely withdrawal gives a clear window for Rabi crop sowing preparations. However, the rainfall shortfall in some regions may affect groundwater recharge and reservoir levels, especially in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and eastern Maharashtra.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) has indicated that while overall water storage in major reservoirs is satisfactory, certain basins in east India are operating at 70–75% capacity, which may affect irrigation planning for the upcoming season.
Read Also : Shefali Jariwala Death Shocker: Authorities Reveal Medical Cause, Rule Out Foul Play at 41
