The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday announced that the southwest monsoon is expected to reach Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir by June 24. As of now, the monsoon has already advanced into most parts of Himachal Pradesh, the entire regions of Ladakh and Kashmir and much of Jammu. It has also touched some parts of Punjab.
“Conditions are favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance further over the remaining parts of the North Arabian Sea, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu during the next two days,” the IMD stated.
Very heavy rain forecast for these states
The department has issued a forecast for widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall over northwest India, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Konkan and Goa between June 22 and 26. It also warned of isolated incidents of extremely heavy rainfall over Gujarat on June 22 and over Madhya Pradesh on June 23 and 24.
Northeast India is also expected to continue receiving heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next three days, followed by scattered heavy rain over the next four days.
Extremely heavy rainfall reported in parts of Gujarat
In the 24 hours ending at 08.30 am on June 22, extremely heavy rainfall was reported in isolated areas of eastern Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Heavy to very heavy showers were also recorded in parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar, West Uttar Pradesh and eastern Rajasthan.
Assam, Meghalaya, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gangetic West Bengal, Uttarakhand and coastal regions of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh also experienced significant rainfall. Thunderstorms accompanied by squally winds, with speeds reaching up to 120 kmph in Marathwada and 40–60 kmph in several other regions, were also observed.