Pune: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has confirmed that the southwest monsoon has commenced its retreat from parts of western Rajasthan and Kutch.
This marks a delayed withdrawal, as the monsoon usually begins its retreat by September 17. However, this year it began six days later, on September 23.
The IMD attributed the monsoon's withdrawal to the development of an anti-cyclonic system at a height of 1.5 kilometers above sea level in northwest India.
Over the past five days, southwest Rajasthan has experienced dry weather, further contributing to the withdrawal conditions.
The regions now declared free of monsoon influence include Anupgarh, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Bhuj, and Dwarka. According to IMD forecasts, the monsoon is likely to withdraw from additional parts of western Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat by September 24.
The monsoon, which arrived in the country on May 19 at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, advanced through Kerala on May 30 and covered Maharashtra by June 6. By July 2, it had reached across the entire nation, remaining in Rajasthan for two months and 21 days.
Historically, the withdrawal dates for the monsoon from northwest India have fluctuated, with the earliest recorded on September 20 (in 2022) and the latest on October 9 (in 2019). Despite the delays in recent years, the current withdrawal aligns more closely with last year’s timeline, when it began on September 25, 2023.
The delayed monsoon retreat may affect weather patterns in northern and western states, as the IMD predicts a continued dry spell following the retreat, with occasional localized rains.
Monsoon Withdrawal from Northwest India in Recent Years:
2019: October 9
2020: September 28
2021: October 6
2022: September 20
2023: September 25
2024: September 23