Live: Mumbai Monsoon LIVE: Thunderstorm alert sounded as southwest monsoon deficit climbs to 43%

The India Meteorological Department released its monthly forecast on Tuesday (June 30), projecting that rainfall totals across India during July are likely to fall below the seasonal norm. The weather agency stated that July precipitation has the highest probability of reaching around 94% of the long-period average (LPA) calculated for the 1971–2020 base period. For India as a whole, the July LPA works out to approximately 280.4 mm. LPA represents the average rainfall registered over a given region across a fixed time window — such as a single month or an entire season — measured over an extended reference span, typically ranging from 30 to 50 years. Notwithstanding the projected shortfall at the national level, the IMD noted that certain parts of northwest and northeast India, east-central India, and the eastern peninsular zone are likely to record rainfall within or above normal bounds. — PTI

Flash floods and landslides hit Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Siang district on Tuesday (June 30), with more than 3,100 residents spread across 14 villages bearing the brunt of the calamity, officials said. Augusti Jamoh, the District Information and Public Relations Officer (DIPRO), reported that paddy fields under wet rice cultivation, private properties and public infrastructure have all suffered extensive destruction across the Nari-Koyu assembly constituency. Villages including Tabiripo Saku, Loglu, Rotte, Rame and Koyu Village have been completely severed from road networks, leaving close to 500 households stranded with no outside access. No fatalities or injuries have been recorded so far, Jamoh added. - PTI

Weather department figures show that monsoon rainfall across India this June landed 39.8% below the long-period average, making it the driest June the country has seen in more than ten years and the fifth lowest for the month in data compiled since 1901. The tardy progress of the seasonal rains has taken a toll on kharif sowing. The cultivation of summer-season crops — among them rice, corn, cotton, and soybeans — has been advancing at a pace well below what is typical for this time of year. The rain shortfall has also meant that large parts of the northern plains stayed gripped by intense heat for longer than usual, with peak temperatures climbing past 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in several areas.

TGPDS figures for the month show that Telangana received a total of 115.3 mm of rain between June 1 and June 30, against a seasonal normal of 130.3 mm. Hyderabad mirrored this trend, recording 103 mm when its expected monthly average stands at 107.4 mm. Across the state's 33 districts, just four registered above-normal rainfall while 12 fell within the acceptable range. A significant 16 districts ended the month in the deficient category. Hanumakonda was the only district to be classified as large deficient, having received a mere 40.9 mm compared to its normal of 142.1 mm — a shortfall that amounts to 71%. The monsoon had made its entry into Telangana on June 8, yet the expected rains failed to materialise at adequate levels across most of the state, leaving it with a 12% overall rainfall deficit for June 2026.

Mumbai is readying itself for a fierce spell of rain as the IMD has forecast heavy downpours and thunderstorms across the city and its suburban belt. The morning bulletin released at 8 a.m. described a heavily overcast sky with the likelihood of lightning and stormy conditions at scattered locations. A yellow alert was already in place for the city, and the weather department indicated that this advisory could be revised as the day progresses.

Rainfall figures from Himachal Pradesh for June have raised concerns. Between June 1 and 29, the state recorded only 63.8 mm of rain against a seasonal average of 95.4 mm for that period, amounting to a 33% shortfall, officials confirmed. Data compiled by the Shimla weather office shows that 11 of the state's 12 districts ended the month with below-normal precipitation. Kinnaur was the sole district to buck the trend, posting a 7% surplus over its usual June average. District-wise, Sirmaur had the deepest deficit at 54%, trailed by Lahaul-Spiti at 53%. Kullu was short by 45%, Mandi by 41%, and Kangra by 35%. Bilaspur registered a 33% shortfall, while Chamba and Una each fell 28% below normal. Hamirpur came in at 27% below average, Solan at 17%, and Shimla recorded the smallest gap at 6%.

The southwest monsoon's nationwide shortfall has grown from 35% to 43%, and the seasonal winds have halted their northward march near Mumbai. Both the U.S. NOAA and the IMD are projecting a moderate-to-strong El Niño event during the current year. The Agriculture Ministry has identified 111 districts from a pool of 315 vulnerable ones and placed them on a priority list, using irrigation coverage as the selection criterion. Persistent extreme heat has been taking a toll on the productivity of agricultural labourers in the field. A combination of high temperatures and inadequate rainfall has stirred fears over the cardamom crop in Idukki — a development that bodes ill for other plantation crops spread across the Western Ghats. Read more

Akasa Air has put out travel advisories for passengers flying to and from Mumbai and Dharamshala, warning of possible disruptions linked to unfavourable weather conditions. The carrier stated that heavy downpours in Mumbai could trigger delays across its entire network, and requested travellers to check their flight status before departing for the airport. In a statement, the airline said: "Due to heavy rainfall in Mumbai, some flights across our network may be delayed. We realise that this may inconvenience your travel plans and seek your patience and understanding. While this situation is completely beyond our control, please rest assured that our teams are always ready to assist you."

IMD has forecast heavy rainfall over the Western Ghats zones of Tamil Nadu starting July 1, as the southwest monsoon continues to hold active across the state. The Regional Meteorological Centre's latest weather bulletin states that isolated spots across Nilgiris, Theni, Dindigul, Erode, and Salem districts — along with the ghat tracts of Coimbatore and Tirupur districts — are likely to receive moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph from Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The bulletin further noted that a trough running from north coastal Tamil Nadu to the Comorin area, extending up to 0.9 km above mean sea level, is set to bring light to moderate showers at isolated places, with thunderstorm and lightning activity at one or two locations, over the remainder of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal during the same period.

Mumbai is readying itself for a surge in rainfall after the IMD put out forecasts of heavy showers and thunderstorm activity for the city and its suburbs, according to civic officials. Per the weather bulletin released at 8 a.m., the city is expected to see heavy rain beneath a predominantly overcast sky, with the possibility of thunderstorms and lightning striking at scattered locations. The department had earlier placed the city under a yellow alert, signalling the chance of heavy rainfall at isolated spots. The alert level could be revised later in the day depending on how conditions unfold.