The southwest monsoon, which brought above-normal rainfall across most parts of India this year, officially withdrew from Delhi on Wednesday (October 2), marking the end of this year’s monsoon season in the capital.
Typically, the monsoon starts retreating from northwest India around September 17, with Delhi seeing withdrawal within a week. However, this year, the monsoon’s retreat has extended into early October.
In a statement, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the monsoon had withdrawn from several northern regions, including Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and parts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, in a virtual press conference, attributed the higher-than-normal rainfall to an increased number of intense low-pressure systems, particularly in August and September. The country received 8% more rainfall than usual, with 934.8 mm recorded against the normal of 868.6 mm — the highest since 2020.
Delhi alone saw an exceptional 1029.9 mm of rainfall during the 2024 monsoon season, far surpassing the normal of 640.3 mm. Heavy rains and flooding led to 13 reported deaths in the national capital.
According to IMD data, 14 low-pressure systems impacted India this monsoon, one more than the average. These systems were active for 69 days, exceeding the typical 55 days, with five developing into depressions or deep depressions, and one intensifying into a cyclonic storm.
(With inputs from PTI)