The southwest monsoon has staged a strong comeback after a sluggish start, pushing India into an overall rainfall surplus during the first week of July. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the country received 53.3 mm of rainfall between July 1 and July 6, compared to the normal 48 mm for the period, marking an 11 per cent surplus.
The revival has been driven by multiple active weather systems operating simultaneously across the country. Satellite images captured by ISRO’s INSAT-3DS satellite show extensive cloud cover stretching from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal and the Himalayan foothills, indicating widespread monsoon activity.
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Meteorologists attributed the improvement to the combined influence of the active monsoon trough, a Monsoon Trough Cyclone over western India, and a depression over the Bay of Bengal. These systems have significantly strengthened rainfall after June witnessed one of the weakest monsoon starts in recent years.
The IMD has forecast very heavy rainfall over Odisha, Chhattisgarh and eastern Madhya Pradesh over the next 36 to 48 hours as the Bay of Bengal depression moves inland. Authorities have warned of possible waterlogging, flash floods and rising river levels in vulnerable areas.
Western India, including Maharashtra and Gujarat, continues to receive widespread rainfall, while Mumbai is expected to witness another spell of heavy showers after intermittent rain over the past few days. Northern India is also experiencing rainfall due to the active monsoon trough, while eastern states continue to be influenced by the Bay of Bengal weather system.
Several states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, have recorded excess rainfall over the past week. However, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and the Northeast continue to report rainfall deficits, although forecasters expect the gap to narrow if the active monsoon phase persists.
The improved rainfall is expected to boost kharif sowing, replenish reservoirs and ease concerns triggered by the delayed and uneven monsoon onset in June.
