India’s June rainfall 11% below normal, fifth lowest since 2020

This season, the Southwest Monsoon arrived over Kerala on May 30 and progressed on time up until Maharashtra, where it advanced around June 9. Thereafter, the weak monsoon currents and the absence of favourable synoptic systems stalled the monsoon advance over the Eastern states of West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Bihar along with areas of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.

Subsequently, many of these states suffered extended heatwave conditions late in June. Warm nights added to the overall hot conditions over the North and Northwest India regions last month. Finally, it was only in the last week of June when the monsoon advance picked pace.

 June rainfall over India (2020 – 2024)

(Source : IMD)

India’s rainfall deficit during June was mainly contributed by the delayed monsoon onset, by a week to 10 days, over Jharkhand (-61 per cent), Bihar (-52 per cent), Uttarakhand (-49 per cent), Haryana (-46 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (-34 per cent), Gujarat (-30 per cent), Chhattisgarh (-28 per cent), Odisha (-27 per cent), and Kerala (-25 per cent).

In June, a rainfall deficit was reported from 17 states whereas normal or above rainfall was recorded over 19 states, according to the data by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Presently, the Southwest Monsoon is in its active phase with multiple weather systems aiding good rainfall over large areas of the country. There are cyclonic circulations, each, prevailing over East Jharkhand, North Assam, and Central Madhya Pradesh. Two troughs are running between the Arabian Sea and Northwest Bihar and the other from North Assam to North Odisha — all these have rejuvenated the monsoon over north and eastern India regions, the IMD officials said.

On Sunday, the monsoon further progressed into Western Rajasthan, Haryana, the rest of Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, and some areas of Punjab. The Northern Limit of Monsoon passed through Jaisalmer, Churu, Hisar, Karnal, Jalandhar, and Tarn Taran.

During the next two to three days, there is a high possibility that the monsoon will cover the entire country against its normal date of July 15.

After experiencing June’s second wettest June day in 90 years, rainfall will continue to lash Delhi till Wednesday. Over Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab, the IMD has warned of heavy rainfall (64.4-115 mm in 24 hours) on July 3 and 4.

Along the country’s west coast, too, the ongoing rainfall activity shall continue. The Met department has said that Konkan, Goa, coastal Karnataka, and Kerala will receive heavy to very heavy rainfall during the week ahead. These regions have been receiving widespread rainfall for a week now.