The monsoon arrived in Delhi on Sunday, one day before its expected date of June 30, while covering the remaining parts of India nine days earlier than its typical date of July 8, as stated by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).“The Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh and Haryana and Entire Delhi today, the 29th June 2025. Thus, it has covered the entire country on 29th June, 2025, against the normal date of 08th July (9 days before the normal date of covering the entire India),” the IMD said in a statement on X.IMD records indicate that this is the swiftest countrywide monsoon coverage since 2020, when it was completed by June 26.A low pressure area over the Northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts persisted in the same region at 0830 hrs IST. The associated cyclonic circulation extended up to 7.6 km above mean sea level. It is likely to move slowly west-northwest across North Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, and Jharkhand during the next two days. Earlier in the day, the IMD issued an orange alert for multiple districts in Himachal Pradesh as the state continued to witness heavy rainfall, particularly in Shimla, the capital city. According to the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, an orange alert was issued for Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, Kullu, and Mandi, indicating the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over the next 48 hours. Additionally, yellow alerts were issued for Kangra, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, and Chamba, forecasting light to moderate rainfall in these regions. The IMD warned of light to moderate rainfall at many places in the districts of Bilaspur, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Hamirpur, Mandi, and Kangra, with a few spells of intense to very intense rainfall likely to occur at isolated places. “Light to moderate rainfall is likely to occur at a few places in the Districts of Kullu, Una, and Chamba,” it added, as quoted by ANI. Authorities stated that the alerts would help ensure preparedness in areas prone to flash floods and landslides.The monsoon system traditionally begins over Kerala around June 1 and spreads across India by July 8. Its withdrawal typically starts from northwest India approximately September 17, concluding entirely by October 15.In 2023, the monsoon’s arrival in Kerala occurred on May 24, marking the earliest onset over mainland India since 2009, which saw its arrival on May 23.
