Monsoon set to arrive early in Delhi on June 24, IMD issues yellow alert for rain and thunderstorms
PTC Web Desk: The Southwest Monsoon is expected to reach Delhi on Tuesday, arriving several days ahead of its usual schedule, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). A yellow alert has been issued for the national capital, warning residents to prepare for rain, thunderstorms, and lightning throughout the day.
Under the IMD’s colour-coded system, a yellow alert signals that people should “be aware” of potentially impactful weather conditions, including localised flooding, waterlogging, or travel delays.
The usual date for monsoon onset in Delhi is June 30, but this year, the seasonal rains are likely to arrive by June 24—marking the earliest onset in the city since 2013, when monsoon showers hit the capital on June 16. In the past few years, the monsoon reached Delhi on June 28 (2024), June 25 (2023), June 30 (2022), and as late as July 13 in 2021.
According to the IMD, atmospheric conditions are favourable for the monsoon to advance into Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, and more parts of Rajasthan. The forecast for the coming days suggests generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.
So far this month, Delhi has recorded three rainy days with over 2.4 mm of rainfall each. As of now, the city has received approximately 89 mm of rain, already exceeding the monthly average of 43.3 mm for June.
In comparison, June 2024 brought 243.4 mm of rain to the capital—well above the normal 74.1 mm for the month. On June 28, 2024, the day monsoon officially arrived, Delhi recorded 228.1 mm of rainfall at its Safdarjung weather station, underscoring the potential intensity of monsoon onset days.
With the monsoon’s early arrival, Delhi’s civic bodies and emergency services are expected to remain on high alert to address potential waterlogging, traffic disruptions, and power outages caused by thunderstorms or flooding.
- With inputs from agencies
