NEW DELHI: India’s southwest monsoon made a strong start after arriving over Kerala on June 4, spreading rapidly across parts of southern India, the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Northeast within a matter of days.
But after that initial burst, its progress across the country has become more gradual, with large parts of central, western and northwestern India still waiting for the seasonal rains.
The slower pace has prompted questions about what is holding the monsoon back.
According to private weather agency Skymet, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal have seen an unusually long absence of low-pressure systems, depressions and cyclonic storms.
The agency said that no significant storm system has formed over either basin since Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025.
These weather systems are often important drivers of monsoon progress, as they help pull moisture-laden winds inland and can accelerate the monsoon’s movement across the Indian landmass.
Without them, the monsoon has to rely more on its background circulation, which can result in a slower and less uniform advance.
According to Skymet, the monsoon current has so far remained stronger along the western coastline than over the interior parts of peninsular India. That is the reason why western regions of India are drenched in rain while other, more central regions are still facing warm days.
IS A SLOW MONSOON COMMON?
Although the slowdown of the monsoon is apparent, the monsoon doesn’t always move northward at a constant speed. Its advance typically occurs in phases, with periods of rapid expansion followed by intervals when progress becomes slower before picking up again.
That pattern appears to be unfolding this year.
After advancing quickly during its first few days, the monsoon has continued to move forward, but at a slower pace.
Despite the slow pace, the IMD reported earlier this week that the southwest monsoon had advanced further into all remaining northeastern states, Sikkim and parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal.
The next phase of the monsoon’s journey could depend on whether a fresh low-pressure system develops over the Bay of Bengal.
