The south-west monsoon has gathered pace across northern India, bringing long-awaited relief from persistent heat and humidity. After entering Uttar Pradesh, the monsoon has now advanced into Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Even before becoming fully active across the region, pre-monsoon showers have already provided respite in several areas, signalling the beginning of an extended spell of wet weather.
Rainfall was recorded on Tuesday morning across Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and neighbouring parts of the National Capital Region, offering welcome relief from soaring temperatures. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rainfall is expected to continue across Delhi-NCR from 1 July to 6 July, with weather conditions remaining favourable for light to moderate showers throughout the week.
Rain, Thunderstorms and Strong Winds Forecast
The IMD has warned that several parts of Delhi-NCR could experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 kmph during this period. Cloud cover is expected to persist for most of the week, contributing to a noticeable fall in daytime temperatures and providing sustained relief from oppressive weather conditions.
Authorities have advised residents to remain cautious during periods of adverse weather, particularly when thunderstorms and strong winds are expected.
Rainfall to Expand Across Uttar Pradesh and Himalayan States
The advancing monsoon is also expected to bring widespread rainfall across Uttar Pradesh, although the timing will vary between regions. Eastern Uttar Pradesh is likely to receive significant rainfall between 1 and 5 July, while western districts are expected to witness increased rainfall activity from 4 to 6 July.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan is also coming under the influence of the advancing monsoon. Eastern Rajasthan is likely to receive rainfall between 2 and 6 July. In western Rajasthan, some areas may experience rain accompanied by dust storms as weather conditions become increasingly unstable.
In the Himalayan region, the monsoon has already reached Uttarakhand, where most districts are forecast to receive rainfall between 2 and 6 July. Himachal Pradesh has also witnessed a change in weather, with Shimla, Manali and adjoining areas expected to receive substantial rainfall between 3 and 5 July. Rainfall is also likely in parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh during the coming days.
Low-Pressure System to Strengthen Monsoon Activity
The IMD has stated that a low-pressure area is developing over the north-west Bay of Bengal and is expected to strengthen around 3 July. Its formation is likely to further energise the south-west monsoon, resulting in more widespread and intense rainfall across several parts of eastern and northern India.
The weather system is also expected to enhance rainfall over Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Bihar and Jharkhand remain under a rain alert until 5 July, while West Bengal and Odisha are expected to receive widespread rainfall until 6 July.
With rainfall activity set to intensify across large parts of the country, the IMD has advised people to avoid open areas during thunderstorms, refrain from taking shelter under trees during lightning, check the latest weather updates before travelling and strictly follow instructions issued by local authorities in districts placed under heavy rainfall alerts.