Southwest Monsoon withdrawal begins says IMD; second-most delayed since 1960

New Delhi: The withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon commenced on Wednesday and it receded from some parts of West Rajasthan and adjoining Gujarat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. This is the second-most delayed withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon since 1960. Monsoon withdrawal from northwest India in 2019 started on 9 October, according to RK Jenamani, senior forecaster with the National Weather Forecasting Centre of the IMD. The withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon from northwest India usually begins from 17 September. The wind system is expected to retreat from Delhi in three to four days. “In view of the establishment of an anti-cyclonic circulation in the lower tropospheric levels over western parts of northwest India and substantial reduction in moisture content and rainfall, the withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon has commenced,” the IMD said in a statement. The Southwest Monsoon has withdrawn from some parts of West Rajasthan and adjoining Gujarat, it said, adding that the withdrawal line passes through Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jalore, Bhuj and Lat. “Conditions are favourable for further withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon from some more parts of Gujarat, entire Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Madhya Pradesh during the next three to four days,” the MeT Department said. The monsoon withdrawal started on 28 September last year, 9 October in 2019, 29 September in 2018, 27 September in 2017 and 15 September in 2016, according to IMD data. The country received “normal” rainfall during the four-month Southwest Monsoon season from June to September. All India monsoon rainfall during 1 June to 30 September has been 87 cm against the Long Period Average of 88 cm of 1961-2010 (99 percent of its LPA). This is for the third consecutive year that the country has recorded rainfall in the normal or above normal category. Rainfall was above normal in 2019 and 2020. The rainfall over the country as a whole was 110 percent in June, 93 and 76 percent in July and August respectively – the months that bring the maximum rains. However, the shortfall of July and August was compensated in September which recorded rainfall 135 percent of the LPA. The Southwest Monsoon made its onset over Kerala on 3 June, after a delay of two days. It rapidly covered central, west, east, northeast and south India by 15 June. It also covered many parts of north India, even Barmer and Jaisalmer, its last outposts, but the monsoon winds failed to reach Delhi, parts of Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh. It then witnessed a lull. It finally covered Delhi, parts of Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh, on 13 July, five days after its normal onset date, belying IMD’s forecasts. The Northeast Monsoon, which brings rainfall to southern states from October to December, is likely to be normal, according to the IMD.