As the southwest monsoon makes its earliest advance in years, India is witnessing intense weather events across several states. Kerala is facing a severe monsoon onslaught, Delhi has logged its wettest May ever, and Maharashtra has seen an exceptionally early onset of the monsoon season. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings and alerts across affected regions as rains continue to disrupt life, damage infrastructure, and claim lives.
Torrential Rains in Kerala Trigger Widespread Flooding and Red Alerts
Kerala is experiencing relentless rainfall following the early onset of the southwest monsoon, leading to widespread flooding, landslides, and destruction. The IMD has issued a red alert in 11 out of the state’s 14 districts, including Kozhikode, Wayanad, Idukki, Malappuram, and Thrissur, with the remaining three districts – Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Alappuzha – under orange alert. A red alert signals extremely heavy rainfall of over 20 cm within 24 hours.
The rainfall is being driven by a well-marked low-pressure area formed from a weakening depression over central India, coupled with strong westerly winds in the lower atmosphere. Authorities have warned that intense rain will likely persist for several more days, fueled by another low-pressure system expected to form over the Bay of Bengal by May 27.
The impact has already been devastating: rivers have breached their banks, low-lying regions are submerged, and roads have been blocked by fallen trees. At least three people have died in rain-related incidents in Kozhikode, including a 64-year-old man crushed by a tree and two teenage siblings electrocuted by a live wire. Over 40 houses were damaged in Palakkad, while more than 30 homes in Thrissur were inundated. A 28-member NDRF team has been deployed to Wayanad, and educational institutions have been closed in nine districts as a safety measure.
Delhi Logs Record-Breaking Rainfall Amid Thunderstorms and Winds
While the south battles floods, the national capital is enduring its own extreme weather. Delhi has recorded its wettest May since records began, with 185.9 mm of rainfall logged at Safdarjung – almost nine times the monthly average of 21.9 mm. The city also recorded its second-highest single-day rainfall for May, with 81.44 mm falling in just 24 hours.
The rainstorm, accompanied by winds touching 82 km/h, caused massive traffic snarls and waterlogging across the city. Air traffic at the Indira Gandhi International Airport was disrupted, with airlines reporting delays due to “airside congestion.” The temperature plummeted sharply during the storm — falling from 31°C to 21°C within 90 minutes at several stations.
Meteorologists attributed the intense weather to a mix of easterly and southeasterly winds from the Bay of Bengal and southwesterlies from the Arabian Sea, interacting with dry mid-level westerlies and multiple upper-air cyclonic circulations over Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Maharashtra Witnesses Earliest Monsoon Onset Since 1990
In a rare event, the southwest monsoon reached Maharashtra on May 25 — the earliest since 1990. The IMD announced that the monsoon has advanced over the Arabian Sea, Goa, Karnataka, parts of Maharashtra, and northeastern states including Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. Normally, the monsoon arrives in Maharashtra around June 7 and reaches Mumbai by June 11.
The IMD predicts that current conditions will push the monsoon further into Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and central and eastern India over the next three days. Coastal Maharashtra, especially the Konkan region and Mumbai, has already been experiencing intense pre-monsoon showers, further signaling the active nature of this year’s monsoon.
Experts like former Earth Sciences Secretary M Rajeevan stated that while such an early and widespread onset is uncommon, it’s not unprecedented. Similar early advances were recorded in 1971, and current active conditions are expected to continue until at least June 2.
A Nation Weathering Extremes
India is currently grappling with a dramatic shift in weather patterns. In the south, Kerala is under siege from rain-induced disasters. In the north, Delhi is dealing with record-breaking rainfall and its aftermath. In the west, Maharashtra is preparing for a longer-than-usual monsoon season. The IMD continues to monitor developments closely, and disaster response agencies are on alert. As climate variability intensifies, early preparedness and real-time weather updates are proving crucial in protecting lives and infrastructure across the country.