IMD Issues Yellow Alert for Delhi-NCR as Monsoon Nears; Heavy Rainfall Predicted

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Delhi, Gurgaon, and Faridabad for Monday, June 23, warning of heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds.

According to the IMD’s latest bulletin, Delhi is expected to experience light to moderate rainfall throughout the day, with wind speeds ranging between 30–40 kmph, especially during the evening. Similar weather conditions are expected to continue into the night.

Rain to Persist Through June 25

The IMD has forecast a continuation of these wet and stormy conditions across the National Capital Region through June 24 and 25. On Tuesday, multiple rounds of showers are expected across parts of Delhi, with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds recurring from morning to night.

Neighbouring cities Gurgaon and Faridabad are also under a yellow alert, with thunderstorms and heavy rain likely throughout the day.

Heavy Showers Across North and Central India

Beyond Delhi NCR, the IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across northwest India, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and the Konkan-Goa region through June 26. Madhya Pradesh, in particular, is expected to witness extremely heavy downpours on June 23 and 24.

Monsoon Set to Arrive in Delhi by June 24

The southwest monsoon is on the verge of arriving in Delhi and its surrounding areas, with the IMD predicting its onset by June 24. If it materializes, this would mark Delhi’s earliest monsoon arrival since 2013, when it hit the city on June 16.

“The southwest monsoon has advanced into most parts of Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Kashmir, and parts of Punjab and Jammu,” the IMD said, adding that conditions are favourable for further advancement into Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, and the remaining parts of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh over the next two days.

In recent years, the monsoon reached Delhi on June 28 (2023), June 30 (2022), and as late as July 13 (2021).

Monsoon Covers Punjab, Himachal

The monsoon has now covered the entire Ladakh region, most of Himachal Pradesh, and large parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, according to a PTI report citing the IMD. With favourable conditions continuing, the rest of north India, including Rajasthan, Delhi-NCR, and western Uttar Pradesh, is expected to see monsoon showers in the coming days.