Delhi Prepares for Monsoon Arrival Amid Red Alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Delhi, signaling the imminent arrival of the southwest monsoon. Atmospheric conditions are now becoming favorable for the monsoon's advance into Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi within the next 24 hours. Experts, including Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather, anticipate the monsoon will officially establish itself in the national capital around July 3 or 4.
Delayed Onset Compared to Recent Years
This year's expected arrival date marks one of the latest monsoon onsets for Delhi in the past five years. For context, the monsoon reached the capital on June 25 in 2020. A comparable delay occurred in 2021, when it arrived as late as July 13, coinciding with its coverage of the entire country.
Forecast for the Capital and Broader Impacts
Until the monsoon officially settles, Delhi can expect unsettled weather. The IMD has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by rain daily between July 3 and July 7. Minimum temperatures during this period are likely to hover between 23°C and 24°C, with maximums expected between 33°C and 35°C.
Across India, the monsoon has already brought significant disruptions. Heavy rains have led to four deaths in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, triggering landslides, flooding roads, and halting normal life in several regions. In Navi Mumbai, two girls suffered electric shocks from an exposed live wire on a waterlogged road. Arunachal Pradesh continues to grapple with the aftermath of flash floods, parts of Maharashtra have been battered by heavy rainfall, and intense rainfall is anticipated over south Bengal in the coming days.