Onset of Monsoon : How Rain Affects Us

While a delayed arrival may catch up quickly to make rapid advancement along and off the coast, an early onset does not assure timely monsoon bursts.

Monsoon, off late, is found to be in the habit of languishing over some part or the other of our country during the onset month of June.

Southwest monsoon arrived as early as 18 May 2004 and delayed its landing to 18th June 1972.  Incidentally, both these years ended up with drought.

On more than 95% of the occasions, the arrival date strikes between 25th May and 08th June which is discreetly considered as normal.

The onset date of monsoon does not have a strong correlation with June rainfall. Last year, the monsoon arrived on 29th May and left the month of June with a shortfall of 8%.

The year prior to that in 2020, the monsoon touched down on 03rd June and dumped 18% excess rainfall during the onset month. The pace and progress of monsoon after onset matters more than being sacrosanct of its normal date of 01st June.