Southwest Monsoon Covers Entire India, Rainfall Deficit Narrows to 14 Per Cent

The Southwest Monsoon covered the entire country on Thursday, a day later than its normal date, as rainfall activity intensified across northern India and helped sharply narrow the countrywide seasonal rainfall deficit.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon advanced into the remaining parts of the north Arabian Sea, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab on July 9, completing its coverage of the entire country. The normal date for the monsoon to cover all of India is July 8.

The completion of the monsoon’s advance comes amid a significant revival in rainfall activity after a weak start to the season. India’s cumulative monsoon rainfall deficit from June 1 to July 9 has narrowed to 14 per cent below normal, compared with a deficit of around 35 per cent until last week. Daily average rainfall across the country has remained above normal for nine consecutive days.

A low-pressure area that had formed over the Bay of Bengal a few days ago moved northwestwards and intensified into a depression. A well-marked low-pressure area is currently located over southwest Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas, driving intense rainfall over parts of northwest India.

The IMD has warned of isolated extremely heavy rainfall over western Uttar Pradesh on July 9 and over Uttarakhand during July 9-10.

The improvement in rainfall activity in July is crucial for the agriculture sector, particularly for the progress of kharif sowing. However, excessive rainfall in some areas also poses risks of waterlogging, flash floods and damage to standing crops.

Heavy Rain Lashes Delhi-NCR

Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) have been receiving heavy rainfall since Wednesday, with a yellow alert in place for Thursday. Parts of northeast Delhi, Ghaziabad and Noida received more than 100 mm of rainfall since midnight.

Heavy rainfall is likely to continue across Delhi-NCR over the next 24 hours.

The IMD has forecast widespread rainfall over Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from July 9 to 12, and over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand from July 9 to 15.

Widespread rainfall is also expected over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi during July 9-10, western Uttar Pradesh during July 9-11, and eastern Uttar Pradesh from July 9 to 13.

However, the next challenge could emerge in central and western India, where rainfall activity is expected to weaken.

The IMD said rainfall activity is likely to decrease significantly from July 9 over central parts of the country, including Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Rainfall activity over southern peninsular India is also expected to weaken from July 10.

Between July 10 and 15, rainfall could once again decline considerably across parts of western, northern and central India, as well as along the west coast.

Northwest India, however, is likely to remain active in terms of monsoon rainfall. The IMD’s latest forecasts indicate the possibility of heavy rainfall over parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.