The southwest monsoon has already advanced further into most parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, south Rajasthan, rest of Madhya Pradesh, some parts of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and northern parts of Punjab by June 23.

The northern limit of monsoon on June 23 passed through 24 degree N/60 degree E, 24.5 degree N/70 degree E, Barmer, Jodhpur, Mathura, Moradabad, Ambala and Amritsar.

Weather review

A well marked low pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal concentrated into a depression in the morning of June 17 and intensified further into a deep depression in the same evening. The rains crossed Orissa coast near Gopalpur in the night of June 17 and lay centred as a depression about 100 km south of Raipur on June 18. It further weakened into low pressure area on June 19 over Maharashtra and MP and became less importanton June 20. During the week ended June 23, southwest monsoon was vigorous in Gujarat region, Saurashtra, Kutch, Konkan and Goa and active in sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Orissa, central Maharashtra, Vidarbha, north interior Karnataka and Kerala. Rainfall also occurred at most places in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and coastal Karnataka, at many places in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, J&K, east UP, Bihar, Marathawada, Telangana and Lakshadweep and at a few or isolated places in the rest regions of the country.

Orissa, hills of west UP, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, west Rajasthan, east Rajasthan, west MP, east MP, Gujarat region, Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Saurashtra, Kutch, Diu, Konkan, Goa, central Maharashtra, Marathawada, Vidarbha, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and south interior Karnataka received excess rainfall in the week.

Arunachal Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, east UP, coastal Karnataka, north interior Karnataka and Kerala received normalrainfall whilst Assam, Meghalaya, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar plateau and plains of west UP received deficient raqinfall during the week ended June 23. Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Bihar plains, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Lakshadweep received scanty rainfall.

During the period June 1 to 23, 25 out of 35 meteorological sub-divisions in the country received normal to excess rainfall. Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar plains and plains of west UP received deficient rainfall.

Weather Forecast: Rainfall activity is likely to increase in central India and also along the west coast. Rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at most places in Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, Orissa, Vidarbha, Konkan, Goa and coastal and north interior Karnataka and at many places in east UP, east MP, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur,Mizoram, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, rest of Maharashtra and south interior Karnataka. Rain or thundershowers are also likely at a few places in west MP, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and at isolated places in rest regions of the country. Increased rainfall activity is likely to continue in northeast India. Isolated heavy rainfall is likely in Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, Orissa, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Konkan, Goa and coastal Karnataka.

Rain or thundershowers are likely at a few places in Himachal Pradesh, J&K and est UP and at isolated places in Punjab and hills of west UP in northern region of the country.

Dust Storms: Dust storms with thundershowers are likely at isolated places in Haryana, Rajasthan and in the plains of west UP. In Delhi and neighbourhood areas, hot strong surface winds during the day is expected.

Temperatures: On June 24, day temperatures rose in Punjab, east Rajasthan, east UP and in the hills of west UP and changedlittle eleswhere in north India. They were, however, normal in the region. The highest temperature in the region was 41.3øC recorded at Hissar in Haryana.