The southwest monsoon has officially arrived in Kerala, marking the beginning of India's rainy season, while several states across the country are witnessing pre-monsoon showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued multiple alerts as weather activity intensifies in different regions.

Kerala and South India

The southwest monsoon entered Kerala on Thursday and is expected to advance further into other parts of southern India in the coming days. Heavy rainfall has been forecast over parts of Kerala and coastal Karnataka, with authorities advising residents to remain cautious.

Maharashtra

Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Palghar are under a yellow alert for thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and light to moderate rainfall. The unsettled weather is expected to continue over the next few days as monsoon conditions strengthen over the region.

Rajasthan

In Rajasthan, the IMD has issued a yellow alert for nine districts — Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Bhilwara, Bundi, Kota, Baran, Jhalawar and Chittorgarh. These areas are likely to receive light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and winds of 30–40 kmph.

Meteorologists have attributed the weather change to an active western disturbance. Rain, thunderstorms and isolated hailstorms are expected across parts of Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Ajmer, Udaipur and Kota divisions over the next few days. Wind speeds could reach 60–70 kmph in some areas, while temperatures are expected to remain below 43°C, providing relief from the recent heatwave conditions.

Delhi-NCR and Northwest India

Delhi-NCR remains under a yellow alert for rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds. Similar weather activity is expected across parts of northwest India, including Punjab, Haryana and adjoining regions, as western disturbances continue to influence weather patterns.

Northeast India

Heavy rainfall is likely to continue across several northeastern states, with the IMD warning of intense precipitation in some areas. The region remainsamong the wettest parts of the country at the onset of the monsoon season.

According to the IMD, the southwest monsoon typically advances northward in phases after reaching Kerala and generally covers the entire country by mid-July.