Monsoon Likely to Withdraw from Northwest India by Sept 15: IMD

SRINAGAR: The southwest monsoon is expected to begin withdrawing from parts of northwest India around September 15, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.

In a statement, the IMD noted that conditions are becoming favourable for the withdrawal of the monsoon from some areas of west Rajasthan from Sunday. The monsoon typically retreats from northwest India around September 17 and withdraws completely by October 15.

This year, the weather system covered the entire country nine days ahead of its usual schedule of July 8 — the earliest since 2020, when it spanned the country by June 26. The onset over Kerala was also earlier than normal, arriving on May 24, the fastest since 2009.

So far, India has received 836.2 mm of rainfall during the season against a normal of 778.6 mm, registering a surplus of seven per cent. The IMD had earlier forecast a “normal to above normal” monsoon, projecting 106 per cent of the long-period average of 87 cm.

The monsoon, vital for agriculture which sustains nearly 42 per cent of the population and contributes 18.2 per cent to the GDP, is also critical for replenishing reservoirs that ensure water supply and power generation across the country.