Monsoon reached the entire country 9 days before the scheduled date
30-Jun-2025 10:48 AM
New Delhi. After being sluggish and inactive in the first fortnight of June, the southwest monsoon became very active and dynamic in the second half, leading to heavy rainfall in different parts of the country.
This year, the monsoon reached most states ahead of its scheduled date, and its intensity and spread are expected to increase further in the coming weeks.
According to the Meteorological Department, the monsoon covered the entire country by June 29, which is nine days earlier than the normal date of July 8. This is considered the fastest monsoon advancement in the last five years.
Previously, in 2020, the monsoon had covered the entire country by June 26. With a balance between the El Nino and La Nina weather cycles, the monsoon this year is expected to support the sowing and development of Kharif crops.
However, extremely heavy rainfall in some areas has resulted in waterlogging and crop damage, including in parts of Rajasthan and Haryana where rainfall is usually low.
The Meteorological Department has issued heavy rainfall alerts for key agricultural states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, as well as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi NCR.
This is expected to raise water levels in rivers and reservoirs and may cause flooding in fields. While this could be problematic in some areas, it will also benefit paddy cultivation significantly.
On June 29, the monsoon advanced into the remaining parts of Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi, thereby covering the entire country.
During this second phase, rainfall was 61 percent above average in western Uttar Pradesh, 42 percent above average in eastern Rajasthan, and 109 percent above average in Haryana. In the past 25 years, the monsoon has covered the entire country in June only six times.
The Meteorological Department has projected 108 percent rainfall at the national level this year. Sowing of Kharif crops has begun to pick up pace and is expected to accelerate further in July and August.