The seasonal rainfall chapter for the national capital has officially drawn to a close this year. The weather department announced on Wednesday that the southwest monsoon has completely retreated from Delhi. Long-term benchmarks fix the normal departure date for the city at September 25, which means the seasonal system exited two days earlier than anticipated, putting an end to rain activity across the capital.
Late Arrival Followed by Early Departure
This monsoon cycle unfolded with a striking contrast between its arrival and departure timelines. Monsoon currents normally hit Delhi by June 27, but this year the rainy front made a delayed entry on July 2. Despite the initial delay of nearly five days, the system did not linger and instead made an early exit. Climatological data calculated from 1971 to 2019 designates September 25 as the standard withdrawal benchmark for the city. Last year, the monsoon pulled back from the capital on September 24.
Widespread Withdrawal Across Neighboring States
The retreat on Wednesday was not confined to Delhi alone. Meteorological officials reported that the southwest monsoon simultaneously withdrew from the entire National Capital Region (NCR), large swathes of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, along with select pockets of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. With dry continental air replacing humid winds, regular precipitation cycles in these territories have now ceased entirely.
Safdarjung Clocks 16 Percent Above Normal Rainfall
Precipitation tallies throughout the active season remained healthy across the capital. Between June 1 and September 23, the Safdarjung monitoring station measured 728.6 mm of cumulative precipitation. Compared to the normal seasonal average of 629.7 mm for the corresponding period, this performance represents a 16 percent surplus, placing Delhi firmly within the normal rainfall bracket.
Historical Extremes in Delhi Monsoon Exit Dates
The withdrawal timeline has historically seen notable fluctuations. Records maintained since 1961 reveal that the earliest recorded departure occurred in 1982, when monsoon winds vacated Delhi as early as September 3. Conversely, the longest stay was documented in 2013, when the seasonal system persisted well into autumn before eventually retreating on October 17.
