Brace for heavy rains: Monsoon to drench North India, next 15 days crucial

After one of the driest Junes in more than a century, India's southwest monsoon is finally showing signs of a strong revival.Meteorologists say the next 15 days will be crucial, with multiple weather systems expected to strengthen the monsoon and bring widespread rainfall across large parts of the country, including the long-awaited onset over north India.The turnaround will be driven by a rare combination of atmospheric features. Forecast models indicate that two low-pressure areas are likely to develop almost simultaneously, one over central India and another over the Bay of Bengal.Together with the establishment of the monsoon trough across northern India, these systems are expected to significantly enhance monsoon activity during the first half of July.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has already indicated favourable conditions for the monsoon to advance further into northwestern India over the coming days.The west coast has become the first region to experience the revival. Heavy rainfall has already intensified over Kerala, coastal Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, with the Western Ghats expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall from the middle of the week as moisture-laden winds strengthen over the Arabian Sea.The rain belt is then expected to spread rapidly inland.From July 1-2, widespread rainfall is forecast across Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, where the twin low-pressure systems are expected to pump large volumes of moisture into the atmosphere.Several areas could witness spells of heavy rainfall, raising the possibility of localised flooding and waterlogging.North India, which has endured prolonged heatwave conditions and one of the most uncomfortable spells of humidity this season, is also likely to see a dramatic change in weather.Meteorologists expect isolated to scattered thunderstorms over Haryana, Punjab and Delhi-NCR from July 1-2. As the monsoon trough shifts southwards towards its normal position, rainfall activity is expected to become more organised.Between July 3 and July 6, these scattered showers are likely to evolve into fairly widespread moderate to heavy rainfall, paving the way for the formal establishment of the southwest monsoon over Delhi, Haryana and Punjab.The revival could not have come at a more important time.India ended June with a 40 per cent rainfall deficit, making it the fifth-driest June since 1901, while kharif sowing has slowed sharply because of inadequate soil moisture.A sustained spell of rain during the first half of July will be critical for agriculture, replenishing reservoirs and easing the intense heat across northern and central India.Weather experts caution that heavy rainfall could disrupt travel and trigger flooding in some regions.However, after weeks of delayed monsoon progress, the strengthening circulation offers the strongest indication yet that the monsoon is finally settling into its active phase, bringing much-needed relief to millions waiting for the season's defining rains.- EndsPublished By: Sibu Kumar TripathiPublished On: Jul 1, 2026 07:00 IST