📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observato
Weather
Monsoon Withdrawal Advances Across Northwest India, Rainfall Declines
✍️ ETV Bharat
🗓 29 Sep 2026, 03:48 AM
👁 12
The Indian Meteorological Department reports that the monsoon retreat is gaining momentum in north‑west India, with rainfall decreasing sharply across the region.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday that the monsoon trough is moving north‑westward, marking a pronounced retreat of the southwest monsoon over Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat. Satellite imagery and ground observations show a steady drop in daily rainfall totals, with many districts recording less than 10 mm of rain in the past 24 hours.
Meteorologists attribute the accelerated exit to a weakening of the monsoon low‑pressure system and the establishment of a dry, northerly wind flow over the region. The shift is expected to continue over the next 48 hours, bringing clearer skies and cooler daytime temperatures.
Agricultural officials warned that the early withdrawal could affect sowing schedules for rabi crops, especially in rain‑dependent areas of Punjab and Haryana. However, they noted that the overall monsoon season remains on track nationally, with adequate rainfall recorded in central and eastern India.
The IMD has advised farmers to monitor local forecasts and to adopt water‑conserving practices as the dry spell sets in. Emergency services remain on standby to address any localized flooding that may still occur in the foothills of the Himalayas due to residual moisture.
The department will issue updated outlooks later this week, focusing on the impact of the retreat on upcoming agricultural cycles and water resource management in the north‑west belt.
Meteorologists attribute the accelerated exit to a weakening of the monsoon low‑pressure system and the establishment of a dry, northerly wind flow over the region. The shift is expected to continue over the next 48 hours, bringing clearer skies and cooler daytime temperatures.
Agricultural officials warned that the early withdrawal could affect sowing schedules for rabi crops, especially in rain‑dependent areas of Punjab and Haryana. However, they noted that the overall monsoon season remains on track nationally, with adequate rainfall recorded in central and eastern India.
The IMD has advised farmers to monitor local forecasts and to adopt water‑conserving practices as the dry spell sets in. Emergency services remain on standby to address any localized flooding that may still occur in the foothills of the Himalayas due to residual moisture.
The department will issue updated outlooks later this week, focusing on the impact of the retreat on upcoming agricultural cycles and water resource management in the north‑west belt.