Southwest Monsoon Retreats From Parts of Northwest India; Earliest Withdrawal From Delhi Since 2002

New Delhi: The southwest monsoon has withdrawn from Delhi and several parts of northwest India, marking its earliest retreat from the national capital since 2002, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The withdrawal was recorded on September 23, 2026, two days ahead of Delhi's normal withdrawal date of September 25. In 2002, the monsoon had retreated from Delhi on September 20. Last year, it withdrew from the capital on September 24.

Monsoon retreats from several northwest states

The IMD said the southwest monsoon has further withdrawn from most parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, the entire national capital, and some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

The current withdrawal line is passing through Gurdaspur, Chandigarh, Muzaffarnagar, Aligarh, Dholpur, Udaipur, Deesa and Naliya, among other locations.

The retreat from west Rajasthan had begun on September 19, two days later than its normal withdrawal date of September 17.

What does the monsoon withdrawal mean?

The withdrawal of the monsoon does not necessarily mean that rainfall will stop immediately.

The IMD considers several atmospheric indicators before declaring that the monsoon has retreated from an area. These include a sustained reduction in rainfall, lower moisture levels and the development of an anticyclonic circulation in the lower atmosphere.

Further withdrawal is expected when these conditions persist and a consistent pattern of retreat develops.

For Delhi and other parts of northwest India, the retreat is expected to gradually bring drier weather conditions.

Delhi received above-normal monsoon rain overall

Despite the early withdrawal, Delhi's overall monsoon rainfall this year has not been deficient.

According to IMD data cited in reports, Delhi received an average of 562.7 mm of rainfall from June 1 to September 22, around 6% above its normal of 532.3 mm.

At Safdarjung, Delhi's main weather station, monsoon rainfall stood at 728.6 mm, nearly 14% above the normal of 640.4 mm.

The rainfall picture varies considerably across northwest India, however. Up to September 22, Punjab had a 40% rainfall deficit, Haryana 24% and Rajasthan 21%, according to the data cited by Hindustan Times.

Countrywide rainfall deficit remains significant

The monsoon's withdrawal from northwest India comes even as several parts of the country continue to face rainfall shortages.

As of September 22, India's cumulative monsoon rainfall was 15% below normal, with the country receiving around 706.9 mm against a normal 832.4 mm for the June 1-September 22 period.

The deficit has been particularly pronounced in several eastern, northeastern and southern states. Bihar, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya have recorded substantial shortages, while Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala have also remained below their respective normal rainfall levels.

Bay of Bengal system may bring rain to eastern India

The monsoon retreat in northwest India is taking place alongside an active weather system over the Bay of Bengal.

The IMD said a deep depression over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal was moving west-northwestwards and was expected to cross the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast near Kalingapatnam by the night of September 23.

The system is expected to produce heavy rainfall in parts of eastern and central India even as drier conditions develop farther northwest.

What lies ahead for Delhi?

With the monsoon now officially withdrawn, Delhi is expected to gradually transition towards a drier weather pattern.

However, the retreat does not rule out isolated or localised rainfall. Weather systems elsewhere, including the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, can still influence conditions across parts of the country.

The IMD will continue to monitor the withdrawal line as the southwest monsoon gradually retreats from the remaining parts of India.