Will monsoon exit Delhi ahead of schedule this year?

The IMD is yet to issue a statement on when it will withdraw from Delhi. The usual date of monsoon withdrawal from Delhi is around September 25.

“Last year, the beginning of the withdrawal was on September 23 against normal date of September 17. The withdrawal from Delhi was on October 2. The IMD has not issued a statement yet on withdrawal from Delhi,” said Krishna Mishra, Scientist at the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre.

Earlier, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, on the outlook for the month, had said that in the recent years, monsoon withdrawal has been delayed overall in the country. The short-term forecast then had clearly indicated that there is no chance of withdrawal of monsoon at least till mid-September, Mohapatra said.

The weather bulletin on Saturday matched this trend, as it has said, “Conditions are becoming favourable for withdrawal of Southwest Monsoon from some parts of West Rajasthan around from September 15.”

How previous years fared

Over the last five years, Delhi has consistently seen the Southwest monsoon withdraw later than its usual date of September 25.

In 2024, the monsoon withdrew on October 2 after a season of 63% excess rainfall. In 2023, it receded around September 30, close to normal but slightly delayed.

In 2022, withdrawal occurred on September 29, aligning almost with the typical date; In 2021, it was notably late, around October 8.

In 2020, the retreat happened on October 1, again after the usual schedule.

This pattern highlights a trend of delayed withdrawal in recent years, with rainfall often extending beyond the expected period, impacting the city’s climate and water availability.

Rainfall breaks records

IMD officials have also clarified that an early monsoon doesn’t mean an early withdrawal.

This year, Delhi had witnessed an early onset of the monsoon. The IMD declared the monsoon’s arrival on June 29, nine days ahead of the normal date of July 8.

Between June 1 and August 31, India received 743.1 mm of rainfall, 6% above the long-period average of 700.7 mm. Northwest India recorded the highest rainfall in the country during this period, with Delhi alone receiving 400.1 mm in August, 72% above the seasonal average.

This monsoon season also stands out as Delhi reported the highest monthly rainfall in August in 15 years — second only to 455.8 mm of rainfall in 2010.

This month’s rainfall also took the total rainfall above 1,000 mm.

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