Monsoon Withdrawal Begins from Northwest Region

New Delhi. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) states that the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon has commenced from the northwestern part of the country and will continue over the next few days. So far, the country has received about 15 percent less rainfall than the long-period average, even as the El Niño weather phenomenon continues to strengthen.

The monsoon's withdrawal was scheduled to begin on September 17 but was delayed by two days. While the monsoon is retreating from western Rajasthan, it is not departing without leaving rain in its wake; a low-pressure area forming over the Bay of Bengal is currently sustaining rainfall across 19 to 20 states.

According to the Meteorological Department, conditions are becoming favorable for the monsoon to withdraw from several other areas of Rajasthan, parts of Punjab, and the Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat over the next 3–4 days. The southwest monsoon is expected to withdraw completely from the country by October 15, while the arrival of the northeast monsoon officially begins on October 1.

This monsoon is most active in the states of southern India, bringing heavy rainfall to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, and southern Odisha. Late rainfall associated with the southwest monsoon could damage early-sown Kharif crops that have already matured and are ready for harvesting.