New western disturbance starting 18 June, says IMD, as 60% of districts see rain deficit
The weather bureau also predicted that the southwest monsoon would advance across five central states, bringing crucial rainfall for the start of the kharif sowing season.
India’s weather bureau said on Wednesday that a new western disturbance is likely to affect northwestern India starting 18 June, even as 60% of the country's districts recorded 'deficient' or 'large deficient' rainfall over 1-16 June. A low-pressure storm system originating over the Mediterranean, a western disturbance brings sudden rain, sharp winds, and cooler temperatures to northern India.
Data from IMD showed that 245 of India’s 741 districts received 'deficient' rainfall, while 214 were marked 'large deficient' over this period. In IMD terminology, ‘large deficient’ means a region suffered a severe rainfall shortage, missing more than 60% of its usual rain for that period.
Meanwhile, conditions remain favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance further over the next four to five days, bringing rain to additional parts of Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh, it added.
The monsoon arrived in Kerala on 4 June, three days after its normal onset date of 1 June. It has since covered Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, most of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, parts of Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar, and the entire northeast.
The IMD also forecast dust storms in Rajasthan between 17 and 19 June, and widespread rainfall for most northern states between 17 and 23 June. Delhi, Chandigarh and Punjab may see isolated thunderstorms around this period, it said. Gangetic West Bengal may receive widespread rainfall from 20-23 June, while most parts of Maharashtra and Goa are likely to see isolated to scattered rainfall over the same period. “Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall” is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during 17-23 June, IMD added.
South India is also set to receive heavy rainfall this week, the weather bureau said. Isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal near Chennai over 17-21 June, and over Kerala and Mahe in over 21-23 June, IMD added.
The IMD advised farmers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu to ensure proper drainage for crops—including rice, millets, sugarcane, groundnuts, vegetables, and plantation crops like banana, coconut, ginger, and black pepper—to minimize damage from heavy rainfall.
India’s kharif sowing season starts in June, with the onset of the southwest monsoon. Harvests start around September-October as the rains recede. The kharif harvest accounts for about half of India’s annual harvest.
In the hot seat
Meanwhile, heatwave conditions are likely to persist in certain parts of the country, IMD said. “Heatwave conditions very likely in isolated pockets over Bihar and Odisha during 17-18 June; Chhattisgarh on 17 June; East Madhya Pradesh and West Madhya Pradesh during 17-21 June; East Uttar Pradesh during 17th-22nd June; Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana during 17-19 June; Marathawada during 18-19 June; Vidarbha during 17-20 June; West Uttar Pradesh during 19-22 June,” the IMD’s statement read.
It also forecast light rain, thunderstorms, and lightning in New Delhi in the latter halves of 18 and 19 June.
About the Author
Manas is a New Delhi-based journalist with Mint, where he covers the intersection of economic policy, industry, and emerging sectors shaping India’s growth. He writes on government regulation, manufacturing, and the clean energy transition, with particular depth in areas such as electric mobility, battery ecosystems, and rare-earth supply chains. He has written on India’s efforts to build domestic capacity in electric vehicles and energy storage, as well as the broader push to reduce import dependence and strengthen supply chain resilience. His reports are not limited to capturing the headline; they also aim to explain complex policy simply.<br><br>Manas has studied law in Pune, the city where he grew up, followed by a business journalism diploma from the Asian College of Journalism in Chennai. In his almost two years of being a correspondent for Mint, Manas has reported as major wars unfolded, a general election brought surprises for both the ruling party and the Opposition, and three Union Budget announcements where India has charted its economic course for the days to come.<br><br>On vacation, Manas plays bass guitar with his friends in Space & Co, their jam-rock band. He also likes cats, and occasions of late-night snacking.
Wait for it…
Oops! Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Remove some to bookmark this image.