Overview
- The India Meteorological Department declared the southwest monsoon over Kerala on Thursday, June 4, marking the official start of the four‑month season.
- Kerala received heavy to very heavy showers immediately after onset, prompting orange and yellow alerts for multiple districts and forecasts of 7–20 cm rainfall through June 9.
- A Western Disturbance and pre‑monsoon activity produced thunderstorms, strong gusts and isolated hail across northwest and central India, forcing upgraded IMD warnings for Delhi‑NCR and causing waterlogging and uprooted trees.
- Forecasts expect the monsoon to advance into parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Lakshadweep and adjoining seas over the next 24–72 hours, and both IMD and PMD have issued marine and coastal warnings that advise fishermen to avoid squally seas with gusts up to about 60 km/h.
- Climate models and agency outlooks indicate a strong initial surge followed by generally weak monsoon flow through the rest of June, raising short‑term flood risks in the south and heightened heat and water‑stress risks for rain‑fed farming elsewhere.