Monsoon Starts Retreating From India

The late retreat of the monsoon this year in the country is the 13th consecutive delayed withdrawal.

Updated on: 25 September 2023 8:34 am

Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a monsoon deficit

Monsoon started withdrawing from India on Monday, eight days after the normal date of September 17, the India Meteorological Department said.

"(The) southwest monsoon has withdrawn from parts of southwest Rajasthan today, September 25, 2023, against its normal date of withdrawal from southwest Rajasthan of September 17," it said in a statement.?

The late retreat of the monsoon this year is the 13th consecutive delayed withdrawal.?? ?Withdrawal of the monsoon from northwest India marks the beginning of its retreat from the Indian subcontinent. Any delay in the monsoon's retreat means a longer rainy season, which can significantly impact agricultural production, particularly for northwest India where monsoon rainfall plays a crucial role in the Rabi crop production.

Typically, the southwest monsoon makes its onset over Kerala by June 1 and covers the entire country by July 8. It starts retreating from northwest India around September 17, withdrawing entirely by October 15.

The India Meteorological Department said, describing the conditions as “favourable for withdrawal of southwest monsoon from parts of West Rajasthan from around September 25”. The normal date for monsoon withdrawal to begin is September 17 and completely withdraw by October 15. The monsoon season officially ends on September 30.

There year as per IMD, there is a 6% deficiency in seasonal rainfall, the shortfall is 19% over east and northeast India; 1% over central India, and 10% over peninsular India. There is a 2% excess over northwest India, IMD had said.

Rainfall of 90 to 95% of LPA is considered to be in the “below normal” category while less than 90% is considered “deficient.” Monsoon rainfall between 96 to 104% is considered “normal.”

“Due to anti-cyclonic flow developing over northwest India at lower tropospheric levels and dry weather prevailing over parts of southwest Rajasthan, conditions are becoming favourable for withdrawal of southwest monsoon from parts of West Rajasthan from around September 25,” IMD had said.

The monsoon is critical for India’s economy as 51% of India’s farmed area accounting for 40% of production is rain-fed. As many as 47% of the country’s population is dependent on agriculture for livelihood.
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