The Southwest Monsoon 2026 reached Kerala on 4 June 2026, three days later than normal and nine days after the IMD’s forecast date. The 2026 Southwest Monsoon officially hit the Kerala coast on 4 June 2026, marking a brief delay of three days compared to its standard onset date of 1 June. Monsoon 2026 LIVE: Southwest monsoon arrives in Kerala, says IMD India Meteorological Department issues orange alert for six districts as heavy rains hit parts of Kerala passing through a residential road near Palayam as it rains, in Thiruvananthapuram on June 4, 2026.

Monsoon reaches Kerala on June 4, four days behind the IMD’s own forecast has missed its onset call beyond the error margin elderly woman walking during a heavy monsoon downpour on June 4, 2026. The IMD said conditions were “favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of central Arabian Sea, entire Goa, some parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, some more parts of Karnataka, remaining parts of Tamil Nadu” and much of the Bay of Bengal “during next two to three days.” 

The southwest monsoon set in over Kerala on Thursday (June 4, 2026), the India Meteorological Department announced. This is three days later than the normal onset date of June 1, and four days behind the date the department had forecast. This is three days later than the normal onset date of June 1 and four days behind the date the department itself had forecast.

As heavy rains lashed various parts of Kerala since the previous night, the IMD on Thursday (June 4, 2026) issued an orange alert for Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts for three hours. The IMD had earlier said the monsoon onset over Kerala would take place on May 26. However, it was delayed, and the department stated on May 29 that the onset could occur the following week. The IMD stated that India is expected to see 90% of the long-period average (LPA) this year. Light rain hits Delhi amid ‘red’ alert for thunderstorms and strong winds also a possibility of hail at isolated places in Delhi, IMD said weather office issued a yellow alert for rain and thunderstorm in the national capital on June 4, 2026. File photo for representational purposes only. 

Delhi got relief from the prevailing warm and humid conditions on Thursday afternoon (June 4, 2026) as light rain hit the city amid the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert and forecasting light to moderate rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds across the city over the next few hours. Record pulses buffer to act as shield against El Nino, says government official

The government’s record pulses buffer of 43 lakh tonnes will serve as a strategic cushion against any supply disruption or price flare-up triggered by a likely El Nino weather phenomenon, a top government official said on Thursday (June 4, 2026).

“We don’t have to dispose it of now. If there is an El Nino effect and it impacts kharif sowing, this buffer stock of pulses will be used,” Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare told PTI on the sidelines of a FICCI event.

The current buffer stock of pulses is more than double the 18 lakh tonnes held in May 2025, and significantly higher than the 21 lakh tonnes recorded in May 2024, according to government data. Mumbai to witness 24 high tide spells of above 4.5 m in Jun-Sep; wave height to be 4.89 m on Jul 16

Mumbai will witness 24 high tides above 4.5 metres during this year’s monsoon season, including a six-day spell from June 14 to 19, civic officials said on Thursday (June 4, 2026).

In a release, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said 24 high tide periods comprise six each in June and July, five in August and seven in September.

“The first spell of high tides will occur from June 14 to 19, with wave heights ranging from 4.64 metres to 4.87 metres. The highest tide of the season is expected on July 16, when waves are forecast to reach 4.89 metres,” the release said.

Citizens must avoid venturing near beaches and the seashore during high-tide periods and should strictly follow advisories issued from time to time, the BMC said in the release. Rain, thunderstorms likely across Arunachal on June 5 fairly widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms is likely over several districts of Arunachal Pradesh on Friday (June 5, 2026), while scattered rain and thundershowers are expected in the remaining parts of the state, according to the latest forecast issued by the Meteorological Centre, Itanagar.

The weather office said fairly widespread rain or thunderstorms are very likely in Upper Subansiri, Kra Daadi, West Siang, Lower Siang, Leparada, Kamle and Papum Pare districts.

Scattered rain and thunderstorms are expected in Tawang, Shi-Yomi, Upper Siang, Siang, East Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, Dibang Valley, Lohit, Anjaw, Namsai, Changlang, Tirap and Longding districts.

The district-wise warning map for Friday (June 5, 2026) places most districts under the ‘watch’ category, indicating the possibility of adverse weather conditions. Isolated heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is likely at several places. Light rain hits Delhi amid IMD red alert for thunderstorms and strong winds. Delhi got relief from the prevailing warm and humid conditions as light rain hit the city amid the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert and forecasting light to moderate rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds across the city over the next few hours.

The weather office said gusty winds with speeds of 50-60 kmph, gusting up to 70 kmph, are expected during the period.

There is also a possibility of hail at isolated places in Delhi, it said.

The forecast covers all districts of the city, including Central, East, New Delhi, North, North-East, North-West, Shahdara, South, South-East, South-West and West Delhi. Heavy rainfall alert in six Telangana districts on June 5. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rainfall alert in six Telangana districts for Friday (June 5, 2026).

According to IMD’s latest bulletin, heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at isolated places in the Rangareddy, Sangareddy, Medak, Kamareddy, Mahabubnagar and Nagarkurnool districts. Additionally, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds are very likely to occur at isolated places in all 33 districts of the State. Coimbatore district records 215 mm rainfall in Tamil Nadu

With the onset of the Southwest monsoon, parts of Coimbatore witnessed showers on Wednesday (June 3, 2026).

The district recorded a total rainfall of 215 mm till 7.30 a.m. on Thursday (June 4, 2026). 

The average rainfall recorded was 9.35 mm. Airport Peelamedu logged a rainfall of 0.2 mm, 0.6 in TNAU, 1 in Mettupalayam, 6 in Coimbatore South Taluk, 6 in Siruvani Adivaram, 6.2 in Madukkarai Taluk, 3 in Railway Station, Podanur, 1 in Pollachi Taluk office, 1 in Aliyar, 45 in Cincona, 59 in Chinnakalar, 29 in Valparai PAP, 24 in Valparai Taluk, and 33 in Sholayar. Orange alert sounded for six districts in Kerala

After a delay of three days from the normal onset date of June 1, the southwest monsoon set in over Kerala on Thursday (June 4, 2026).

The monsoon has advanced into parts of the southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, some parts of the west-central and east-central Arabian Sea, the entire Lakshadweep Islands, Kerala and Mahe, some parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the remaining parts of the Comorin area, the southeast Bay of Bengal, and more parts of the southwest, west-central, east-central, and northeast Bay of Bengal, according to a weather bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Read the full story below

Southwest monsoon: Orange alert sounded for six districts in Kerala

Orange alert issued for six Kerala districts as southwest monsoon arrives, bringing heavy rainfall and favorable conditions for further advance. Monsoon reaches Kerala on June 4, four days behind the IMD’s own forecast southwest monsoon set in over Kerala on Thursday (June 4, 2026), the India Meteorological Department announced. 

This is three days later than the normal onset date of June 1 and four days behind the date the department itself had forecast.

On May 15, the IMD had predicted the monsoon would arrive over Kerala on May 26, with a model error of plus or minus four days. The actual onset on June 4 overshot even the upper bound of that window, May 30, by four days. It is the first time since 2015 that the department has missed its onset call beyond the error margin; its operational forecasts had been accurate every year from 2005 to 2025 save that one lapse. The delay marks the first time since 2015 that the weather agency’s forecast overshot its standard \(\pm \) 4-day error margin.

1 · What happened

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has revised the onset of the Southwest Monsoon over Kerala from May 26 to around June 4, 2026 — the first overshoot beyond the model’s ±4-day error window since 2015.An upper-air cyclonic circulation off the southern Kerala coast is now providing the final atmospheric push for landfall. The delay is attributed to a building El Niño phase in the equatorial Pacific suppressing convection over the subcontinent.

2 · IMD’s Three-Criteria Onset Test & Why 2026 Stalled

Monsoon Onset over Kerala (MOK) is declared only when three meteorological conditions — rainfall, wind depth, and outgoing radiation — are simultaneously satisfied on any day after May 10.

Criterion 1 — Rainfall60% of 14 StationsAt least 60% of 14 designated stations across Kerala and adjoining coast (Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru) must record ≥2.5 mm rainfall for two consecutive days.	Criterion 2 — Wind DepthWesterlies up to 600 hPaLower-tropospheric westerlies must extend up to the 600 hPa pressure level (~4.5 km altitude) over the southeast Arabian Sea — proof of a structural, deep wind system.
Criterion 3 — MechanismOLR below 200 W/m²Outgoing Longwave Radiation over the southeast Arabian Sea must drop below 200 W/m² — a proxy for deep, thick cloud tops blocking heat escape, distinguishing monsoon convection from pre-monsoon showers.	Threat — Why 2026 StalledEl Niño & Walker DisruptionAbnormal warming of the eastern tropical Pacific disrupts the Walker Circulation, altering upper-air winds and suppressing convection over India. Season forecast: 90% of LPA — “Below Normal”.

• Driver of the monsoon: Differential heating creates a low-pressure trough over Tibet/Central Asia while the southern Indian Ocean stays cool — drawing moisture-laden trade winds that the Coriolis force deflects into Southwest winds.
• Agriculture exposure: Over 50% of India’s net sown area is rain-fed, with no irrigation backup — a delayed onset shortens the Kharif cycle for rice, pulses, oilseeds, cotton.
• Inflation linkage: Below-normal rainfall directly spikes prices of vegetables, pulses and sugar — complicating RBI monetary policy.
• Hydrological stress: Reservoir depletion hits rural drinking water security and hydroelectric generation at peak summer demand.

Image : Depicting El -Nino & La-Nina Phenomenon

UPSC Value Box

IMDIndia Meteorological Department — national weather agency under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES); HQ at New Delhi, est. 1875.LPALong Period Average — average all-India seasonal rainfall over a 50-year reference period. Categories: ≥104% Above Normal · 96–104% Normal · 90–96% Below Normal · <90% Deficient.OLROutgoing Longwave Radiation — infrared energy radiated by Earth to space. Low OLR ⇒ thick high cloud tops ⇒ deep convection ⇒ active monsoon.El Niño / ENSOWarm phase of El Niño–Southern Oscillation — abnormal warming of the eastern equatorial Pacific; historically correlated with weaker Indian monsoons.Walker CirculationEast–west atmospheric loop over the tropical Pacific — rising air over warm Indo-Pacific, sinking over cool eastern Pacific. Weakens/reverses during El Niño.National Monsoon MissionLaunched by MoES to build a dynamic mathematical forecasting system for seasonal and intra-seasonal monsoon prediction via high-performance computing.PMKSYPradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana — motto “Har Khet Ko Pani”; component “Per Drop More Crop” promotes micro-irrigation.Amrit Sarovar MissionMission to develop and rejuvenate 75 water bodies per district to strengthen decentralised rainwater harvesting.

MCQ Practice Question

Q. With reference to the Southwest Monsoon and its onset over Kerala, consider the following statements:The IMD declares monsoon onset over Kerala only when at least 60% of 14 designated weather stations record 2.5 mm or more rainfall for two consecutive days, along with specified wind and radiation criteria.El Niño refers to the abnormal cooling of surface waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, which typically strengthens the Indian Southwest Monsoon.Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) values below 200 W/m² over the southeast Arabian Sea indicate deep convective cloud cover and are used by IMD as one of the onset criteria.Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only    (b) 2 and 3 only    (c) 1 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 onlyStatement 1 — Correct: The rainfall criterion requires ≥60% of 14 designated stations (Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru and others) to record ≥2.5 mm for two consecutive days, alongside the wind and OLR criteria.Statement 2 — Incorrect (the trap): El Niño is the abnormal warming (not cooling) of surface waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific, and it typically weakens (not strengthens) the Indian Southwest Monsoon by disrupting the Walker Circulation. The cooling counterpart is La Niña.Statement 3 — Correct: OLR below 200 W/m² over the southeast Arabian Sea indicates thick, cold cloud tops and deep convection — the third pillar of IMD’s onset declaration.

Core Reasons for the Delay

• Developing El Niño Phase: A building El Niño phase in the equatorial Pacific disrupted the Walker Circulation, which shifted wind flows and suppressed standard monsoon convection over the Indian subcontinent. Monsoon not entering India due to something strange happening in Indian Ocean southwest monsoon is late beyond its expected onset over Kerala. Here’s why the Indian Ocean is delaying the monsoon’s arrival.

India continues to wait for the southwest monsoon as June has begun. Normally, the rains arrive in Kerala around June 1, bringing relief from the intense summer heat and starting the crucial farming season. Monsoon arrival pushed back again: When will rains finally reach India?

The season that millions have been waiting for is once again facing an unexpected hurdle, extending the wait for relief from one of India’s hottest years.

India’s southwest monsoon, which was supposed to have arrived in Kerala by now, is running behind schedule, and the latest forecast suggests it won’t make landfall before June 3, with some weather experts now saying it could slip even further. Rains delayed: Why has Kerala missed its early date with monsoon? India was expecting an early monsoon this year, but something around the Bay of Bengal has unexpectedly changed the timeline. Read when the rains will now arrive.

India’s southwest monsoon, which was forecast to arrive ahead of schedule, on May 26, has been delayed.

The reason?

Monsoon

The Monsoon season is a significant weather phenomenon that occurs in several parts of the world. It is characterized by a period of intense rainfall and increased humidity. In India, the Monsoon season typically spans from June to September and plays a vital role in the country’s agricultural and economic activities.

The Monsoon season in India is driven by the southwest monsoon winds, which carry moist air from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. As these winds encounter the Indian subcontinent’s mountain ranges, they are forced to rise, leading to condensation and the formation of rain clouds. This process results in widespread rainfall across the country.

India heavily relies on the Monsoon season for its agriculture, as the rains nourish crops and recharge water bodies. The success of the agricultural sector during this period directly impacts the country’s food production and economy. However, excessive rainfall can also lead to flooding, causing damage to infrastructure, homes, and crops, and posing a threat to lives.

The timing, duration, and intensity of the Monsoon can vary across different regions, but the fundamental mechanism of seasonal winds and precipitation remains similar.

Overall, the Monsoon season is a crucial natural phenomenon with both benefits and challenges. While it provides much-needed water for agriculture and sustains ecosystems, it also requires careful management to mitigate the risks associated with excessive rainfall and flooding.

Kerala

Praised with the epithet ‘God’s Own Country’, Kerala is strategically located at the southwestern tip of India and enjoys unique geographical features. The state is surrounded by the Arabian Sea in the west and is flanked by the towering Western Ghats in the east with a network of 44 interconnected rivers.

Palm-fringed backwaters, beaches, hill stations, tropical forests, waterfalls and wildlife makes Kerala one of the sought-after tourist destinations in the country. Located on the Malabar coast of India, Kerala was formed on November 1, 1956, after Malayalam speaking regions were integrated with Malabar, Cochin and Travancore regions. Often labelled as the ‘Spice Coast of India’, Kerala hosted several travellers and traders from across the world such as Portuguese, Romans, Greeks, Dutch and French.

Trivandrum is the capital city of Kerala and Malayalam is its official language. Kerala is the twenty-first largest state in India with hundred per cent literacy and also boasts of its organised urbanisation with a relatively high media exposure. The state was adjudged the best performer in the NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) index for the year 2020-21.

While agriculture is the main occupation of the people, more than one million people in Kerala depend on fishing. Kerala is considered one of the most progressive states in the country in terms of education, social welfare and quality.

Kochi, Kollam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur, Alappuzha, Munnar and Kottayam are some of the major cities in Kerala. The Silent Valley in the Palakkad district is one of the well-known biodiversity hotspots in the world. Padmanabhaswamy Temple, tea gardens, Poovar island, Alleppey backwaters, Kappad beach, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve and Nelliyampathy hills are some of the recommended tourist destinations in the state.

Kerala misses early date with monsoon: When will rain and cool winds arrive? India’s most awaited season was expected early this year, but shifting skies and weather conditions have changed the timeline. Here’s when monsoon rains are now expected to arrive.

The monsoon this year was expected to arrive in Kerala on May 26, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had said in its forecast. The date was optimistic as it was five days ahead of the normal June 1 date.

But that hasn’t happened.

Southwest Monsoon

The Southwest Monsoon is India’s main rainy season and one of the most important weather systems affecting the country’s economy, agriculture and water security. Arriving usually in early June over Kerala, the monsoon spreads across most parts of India by mid-July and continues until September.

The monsoon develops because land areas over northern and central India heat up faster than the surrounding oceans during summer, creating low pressure over the subcontinent. Moisture-laden winds from the Indian Ocean then move towards the land, bringing widespread rainfall. These winds, known as southwesterlies, split into two branches — the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch.
The Arabian Sea branch brings rain to the western coast and central India, while the Bay of Bengal branch moves towards eastern and northeastern India before spreading into the northern plains. Mountain ranges such as the Western Ghats and the Himalayas force the moist winds to rise, cool and produce rainfall.

Nearly 75 per cent of India’s annual rainfall comes during the Southwest Monsoon season, making it crucial for farming, hydropower, rivers, groundwater and drinking water supplies. Around 64 per cent of Indians depend on agriculture, much of which relies heavily on monsoon rains.
However, the monsoon is highly unpredictable. Delayed arrival, uneven rainfall, floods, droughts and long dry spells can severely affect crops, rural incomes and overall economic growth.

Rain

Rain is one of the most common forms of precipitation and plays a vital role in Earth’s climate, agriculture, and water supply. It occurs when water vapor in the atmosphere cools and condenses into droplets inside clouds. Once these droplets become heavy enough, gravity pulls them to the ground as rain.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), rainfall is measured in millimeters or centimeters through a district-wise monitoring system that tracks daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal rain across the country. The IMD also provides rainfall maps, analysis, and forecasts to help monitor changing weather conditions.
Not all falling water is classified as rain. Rain consists of liquid droplets usually larger than 0.5 mm in diameter. Smaller droplets are called drizzle, while frozen forms such as snow, sleet, or hail are categorized separately. Raindrops can range from 0.5 mm to about 9 mm before they begin to break apart.
Rain is classified by both intensity and duration. Light rain produces little accumulation, while heavy rain can trigger flooding and waterlogging. Rain may also occur as short bursts called showers or as continuous rainfall lasting several hours or days.
India’s monsoon rainfall is measured against a Long Period Average, which helps meteorologists determine whether rainfall is normal, below normal, or above normal in a season. Rain remains central to India’s economy, especially for farming, groundwater recharge, and drinking water supply.

The southern coastal state is where monsoon first arrives, signalling the onset of the season of relief and cool winds and showers for the entire country.

If you’ve stepped outside anywhere in North India this week, you already know the numbers don’t do justice to the misery. North India burns under heatwave, UP’s Banda hottest in the country at 48.2°C

With Banda touching a blistering 48.2°C and red alerts issued across north India, hospitals are filling up, schools are shutting and authorities fear the worst may still lie ahead.

India on weather edge: Thursday to witness scorching heat, intense temperatures as north india bakes in one of the worst heat spells of the season, the South braces for more storms. India’s weather department has warned the country of a day of weather extremes, with multiple alerts issued.

A woman covers her face while walking along a road amid dusty winds and scorching heat during a heatwave in Prayagraj. India witnessed another day of weather extremes on Wednesday, with scorching heatwaves baking large parts of the north and central regions even as weather alerts remained in place elsewhere.

Banda in Uttar Pradesh emerged as the hottest place in the country, recording a blistering 48.2 degrees Celsius. Temperatures across West Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and large parts of Madhya Pradesh remained more than 5 degrees above seasonal averages, underscoring the intensity of the ongoing heat spell.

Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions persisted through the day across Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, East and West Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Vidarbha, pushing residents to seek relief from the relentless summer temperatures.

Tuesday, May 19, turned out to be one of the most punishing days of the year for north and central India. Tuesday, May 19, turned out to be one of the most punishing days of the year for north and central India.

Weather In Delhi

The minimum temperature in Delhi today is likely to hover around 32 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature might reach 41 degrees Celsius. The mercury level is expected to hover around 37 degrees Celsius throughout the day, with the wind speed around 5.84. The wind will move around 301 degrees with a gust speed of 7.29. The sunrise time is 05:23 AM, while it will set at 07:16 PM on Friday. As per the seven-day weather prediction, the temperature in Delhi is likely to reach 41 degrees Celsius on Friday, 43 degrees Celsius on Saturday, 44 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 45 degrees Celsius on Monday, 46 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, 46 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and 46 degrees Celsius on Thursday. Why your house feels hot after the Sun goes down nights are becoming warmer due to humans, and the concrete and brick buildings we are constructing, allowing heat to linger for longer. And the impacts are far more concerning than we realise.

On the night of April 28, Delhi’s Safdarjung weather station recorded a nighttime temperature of 28.4°C. That was about 4.5°C warmer than what is considered normal for that time of year.

Usually, by late April, Delhi nights cool to around 24°C, but that night stayed almost as warm as a June morning.

In other words, the heat didn’t really ease after sunset. What’s more worrying is that this was not an anomaly but part of an emerging trend.

The premature end of winter, a hot start to 2026, and experts’ comments—all point to the same worrying forecast. India’s summers are not getting better. They are getting worse.

And 2026 might just prove it, as trends are pointing to a scorching summer ahead that will last longer and bring more intense heat.

“I am very sure this summer is going to be as hot as it was in 2024,” said Dr Anil Joshi, a conservationist who was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2020. What made the summer of 2024 the hottest on Earth?

The season was marked by a series of extreme weather events, including the hottest day ever recorded globally.

The summer of 2024 has officially been declared the hottest on record for the Northern Hemisphere, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). This unprecedented heat wave has raised alarm bells among climate scientists and policymakers worldwide, as it underscores the intensifying impact of global warming. India faces record-breaking heatwave worsened by climate change

Climate change, predominantly caused by burning fossil fuels and exacerbated by human interference, is making heatwaves hotter and more likely to happen everywhere in the world.

India is being hit by one of its worst heatwaves streaks ever, with many parts of the country experiencing consistent temperatures of over 50ºC. On Wednesday, an outlier temperature above 52ºC was reported in Delhi, but this is still being evaluated and rechecked. City authorities have also warned of a risk of water shortages and the power grid tripping. Delhi to reel under heatwave today, relief likely from tomorrow heatwave conditions will continue to prevail in Delhi today, but light rain with gusty winds will likely bring some relief in the national capital starting tomorrow.

Delhi weather station records 52.9°C, highest in India’s history weather station in Delhi on Wednesday recorded India’s highest-ever temperature at 52.9 degrees Celsius amidst the ongoing heatwave. The weather department has attributed the record-breaking temperature to either an “error in the sensor or the local factor (s)”.

Delhi on Wednesday recorded India’s highest-ever temperature with the mercury reaching 52.9 degrees Celsius at the city’s Mungeshpur weather station, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Earlier, the country’s highest-ever temperature was recorded at Rajasthan’s Phalodi weather station.

Delhi

Officially known as the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, it is the capital of India. A union territory bordered between Haryana on three sides and Uttar Pradesh on its eastern side, Delhi is also the second most populous region of the country after Mumbai.

Being among the oldest existing cities of the world, it has been continuously inhabited by people since as early as the 6th century. It also served as the capital for many royal dynasties, the most famous of which is the Mughal Empire.

The union territory also serves as a home for the state heads and is the centre of national politics as well. The Parliament, Rashtrapati Bhawan, and various other government institutions present within the city make it the administrative epicenter of the whole nation.

Apart from this, Delhi also boasts of fair number of tourist sites among which are the three UNESCO world heritage sites of the Humanyun’s Tomb, the Qutab Minar and the Red Fort to name a few. Two of these are synonymous with the city’s skyline and are iconic monuments easily recognisable throughout the country. Another prominent spot of the city is the India Gate which was built as a war memorial for soldiers of the British Indian Army who died during the 1st World war.

The city is also a major education hub of the country with many renowned colleges and universities present within its limit. Some of the most famous educational institutes in Delhi include Delhi University, Jamia Milia Islamia and Jawahar Lal Nehru University, among others. Speaking about the record-breaking temperature, the IMD officials said that it could be either due to an “error in the sensor or the local factor (s)”.

Weak Cross-Equatorial Winds: The crucial moisture-laden trade winds lacked the necessary atmospheric strength to settle over the mainland on time. Southwest monsoon delayed as IMD say conditions remain unfavourable IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the south-west monsoon has covered Andaman Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and surrounding areas.

BENGALURU: The arrival of the most-awaited South West Monsoon has been delayed. Reason: The parameters that decide the onset have not met the required criteria.

Officials at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the wind pattern is not satisfactory and so is the outgoing long-wave radiation. The prolonged hot and dry spells and the break in pre-monsoon rain pattern have also affected the arrival of monsoon.

IMD-Bengaluru Director-in-charge, N Puviarasan said the westerly winds need to reach a height of 4 km, but at present, they are around 1.5 km. It is raining in Kerala, but it is the pre-monsoon showers, he added.

“Based on the long period average assessment, the ideal date of onset of monsoon is June 1. But this year, it was forecast that the monsoon would arrive on May 26-27. But it has been delayed now. In the wake of the present scenario, the conditions are not favourable for the onset of monsoon even on June 1,” he said. Weathermen said as this is the El Nino year, the monsoon will be weak. The cross-equatorial winds are also not very strong for the monsoon to set in. Had the winds been strong, by this time the entire equatorial region and southern west coast would be experiencing rain. But the winds are weak now, they added.

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the south-west monsoon has covered Andaman Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and surrounding areas. It is yet to hit the mainland. The forecast is that it will advance in the next two days. Its arrival on the mainland cannot be said at the moment.

However, pre-monsoon showers are gradually expanding over the entire country. A dip in maximum temperatures and rain over most parts of the country has been forecast from May 28-31 as part of the pre-monsoon showers.

Equatorial Disruptions: Atmospheric pressure variations and temporary stalling near Sri Lanka checked the monsoon’s initial rapid progress.

Concepts:

Southwest monsoon, Weather patterns, Climate

Explanation:

The delay of the Southwest monsoon can be attributed to several factors, including atmospheric pressure variations, temperature differences, and the presence of high-pressure systems. These factors can influence the onset of the monsoon winds and the moisture-laden air that is necessary for rainfall.

Step by Step Solution:

Step 1

Understand that the Southwest monsoon is influenced by the differential heating of land and sea.

Step 2

Recognize that the presence of high-pressure systems over the Indian subcontinent can delay the arrival of the monsoon winds.

Step 3

Consider that variations in sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean can also affect the timing and strength of the monsoon.

Final Answer:

The Southwest monsoon is delayed due to atmospheric pressure variations, high-pressure systems, and sea surface temperature changes.

Key Outlook for the 2026 Season

• Below-Normal Rainfall: The IMD has downgraded its season cumulative rainfall forecast to 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA), alerting sectors to prepare for a drier-than-usual year. Monsoon 2026 has arrived, but India’s rain season begins under El Niño shadow
  Southwest Monsoon reached Kerala on June 4, three days later than normal and nine days after IMD’s forecast date; weather agencies warn of below-normal rainfall and rapidly developing El Niño
  
  Summary
• The Southwest Monsoon 2026 reached Kerala on 4 June 2026, three days later than normal and nine days after the IMD’s forecast date.
• IMD has forecast below-normal rainfall at 90% of the long-period average, with a 60% chance of a deficit or deficient monsoon.
• The weather agency expects El Niño conditions to develop during the monsoon season, a pattern that usually suppresses rainfall over India.
• NOAA forecasts suggest the 2026 El Niño could become very strong and may persist until the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2026-27.
• Neutral Indian Ocean Dipole conditions and the possible return of active western disturbances could further complicate rainfall patterns and extreme weather risks.
• Monsoon 2026 has finally reached Kerala, but the bigger question is what happens next as El Niño builds over the Pacific and India faces the risk of below-normal rainfall.
• The Southwest Monsoon began over the state on June 4, 2026, three days later than its normal date of 1 June and nine days later than the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) forecast date of May 26, 2026 with several weather threats looming ahead.
• The monsoon on June 4 had covered all of the state, Mahe and the Lakshadweep islands, and moved into parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, IMD said in a statement. It also progressed across the Comorin area and large parts of the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, including parts of the west-central, east-central and northeast Bay of Bengal. The monsoon winds are flowing into India at a time when the global threat of an El Niño looms. Super El Niño impact: Will India see a weak monsoon? India may see below normal rainfall in the upcoming southwest monsoon, with immediate impacts for farmers latter half of India’s southwest monsoon season this year could be affected by the super El Niño developing in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean, according to the long range forecast of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on April 13. The southwest monsoon brings around 70 per cent of the annual rainfall, or around 870 mm (long period average or LPA) from June to September. IMD forecasts that the 2026 season may only see around 800 mm of rainfall. This could translate to adverse consequences for about 60 per cent farmers in the country reliant on monsoon rainfall for the kharif season.
• The probability of a deficient season (rainfall below 90 per cent of LPA) is 35 per cent, more than double the long-term (climatological) probability of 16 per cent. Chances of a below normal season (90-95 per cent of LPA) is 31 per cent, and normal rainfall (96-104 per cent of LPA) is 27 per cent. The long-term probability of below normal rainfall is 17 per cent and of normal rainfall is 33 per cent. The chances of an above normal or excess rainfall are only 6 per cent and 1 per cent respectively.
  
  The major climatic factors that could influence the rainfall are the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and the snow cover area in the Eurasian region. During the last super El Niño in 2015-16, IMD had predicted a southwest monsoon season with 93 per cent of LPA, which it later revised to 88 per cent. The actual rainfall recorded was 86 per cent of LPA, with widespread drought-like conditions across the country. The upcoming season projections show a similar bleak picture. Barring some regions in the extreme north such as Ladakh, extreme west such as Rajasthan, the Northeast and northern south peninsula such as Telangana, the rest of the country will see deficit rainfall.
• The second driver, IOD, is a climatic phenomenon that occurs in the Indian Ocean. During its positive phase, western parts of the Indian Ocean are warmer than normal and eastern parts are cooler than normal, generally supporting good rainfall. These conditions are reversed during the negative phase, generally decreasing monsoon rains. IMD notes a neutral IOD in the Indian Ocean currently, with positive conditions forecast to develop by the end of the SWM. The third major factor is the snow cover over the northern hemisphere, especially the Eurasian region. IMD stated that the northern hemisphere snow cover extent from January to March was slightly below normal, which typically translates to a good monsoon.
• Mrutyunjaya Mohapatra, director general of IMD, and M Ravichandran, secretary of the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences said in a media briefing on April 13 that development of positive IOD conditions and below normal snow cover over northern hemisphere could counter some impacts of the El Niño conditions. “We also forget that there is another major driver for monsoon rainfall, which is global warming. We have been observing excess moisture being added to the monsoon rainfall since 2000 and this accumulated moisture will be causing rainfall somewhere, such as what we have observed in Rajasthan in the past few years”, says K J Ramesh, climate scientist and former director general of IMD. “The worst-case scenario could be a slightly negative rainfall during the monsoon,” he adds.

Summary

• NOAA’s latest update says there is an 82% chance of El Niño developing between May and July 2026.
• Early projections suggest the event could become strong or very strong by the end of the year, with conditions likely to continue into early 2027.
• Some models forecast the Ocean Niño Index crossing 3°C, a level reached only once before, in January 1878, according to NOAA data analysed by Down To Earth.
• Scientists say a powerful El Niño could increase risks of heat, drought, wildfires, coral bleaching and pressure on agriculture, food security and public health.
• While the world is better prepared than during the historic 1876-78 event, experts warn institutions may be stretched and need sufficient resources.

The world may be heading towards one of the strongest El Niño events ever recorded, with unusually rapid warming in the Pacific Ocean raising fears of extreme heat, droughts and weather disruptions across several regions. Forecasters say there is an 82 per cent chance of El Niño developing between May and July this year, while early projections from the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggest it could intensify into a very strong event by the end of the year — comparable to the devastating 1877 El Niño, one of the strongest on record.

• Deficit Risks: Experts estimate a 60% probability of a deficit monsoon, primarily threatening central and southern agricultural belts during the second half of the season.
• Immediate Alerts: Despite the overall sluggish start, active cyclonic circulations have prompted orange alerts for heavy to very heavy rainfall across parts of Kerala and Karnataka as the system pushes inland.

Regional Progression Outlook

Region / State	Estimated Arrival Timeline	Impact Status
Kerala	4 June 2026 (Actual)	Delayed arrival; heavy downpours ongoing
Telangana	8 – 9 June 2026	Delayed by nearly two weeks compared to 2025
Maharashtra & Goa	Expected within next 2–3 days	Favourable advancement conditions building