Monsoon to Reach Delhi in 2-3 Days as India Logs One of Driest Junes on Record

India witnessed one of its driest Junes in more than a century, with rainfall nearly 40 per cent below normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). While the southwest monsoon is expected to advance into Delhi and adjoining northwestern regions within the next few days, meteorologists have linked the weak rainfall performance to the absence of low-pressure systems and the growing influence of El Nino conditions.

June Rainfall Deficit Among Worst in More Than a Century

India recorded 99.5 mm of rainfall during June against the normal 165.3 mm, resulting in a deficit of 39.8 per cent. According to the IMD, this makes June 2026 the fifth-driest June since record-keeping began in 1901.

Rainfall distribution remained uneven across the country. Of the 36 meteorological subdivisions, 24 recorded deficient rainfall, while three experienced large deficient rainfall during the month.

The southwest monsoon first advanced into the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on May 16 before reaching Kerala on June 4, three days later than its climatological normal onset date of June 1. By Tuesday, the monsoon had progressed across the entire southeast and northeast regions, large parts of central India, and some areas of northwest India.

Monsoon Set to Advance Into Delhi and North India

The IMD said the southwest monsoon is likely to advance into Delhi and parts of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, as well as the entire Jammu and Kashmir region within the next two to three days.

The expected advance could bring much-needed rainfall to northwestern parts of the country, which have been waiting for widespread monsoon activity following a sluggish start to the season.

El Nino, Lack of Weather Systems Weighed on Rainfall

According to the weather department, no low-pressure systems formed during June 2026, significantly affecting rainfall activity across India.

The IMD noted that typhoon activity over the western Pacific remained above normal during the month. However, most of these systems recurved towards the north-northwest, limiting the development of low-pressure systems over the Indian Ocean region that typically contribute to monsoon rainfall.

There was a negative impact on rainfall activity over India due to the development of El Nino, the IMD noted. Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), the IMD said, is in a neutral phase, which could not help to compensate for the negative impact of El Nino.

The weather agency further stated that El Nino conditions are likely to persist through the remainder of the 2026 southwest monsoon season.

Looking ahead, the IMD has forecast below-normal rainfall across most parts of the country during July. However, some regions of northwest and northeast India, east-central India, and the eastern peninsular region are likely to receive normal to above-normal rainfall.

(With inputs from ANI)