The India Meteorological Department issued a heatwave warning for Vidarbha and parts of Maharashtra on Friday as the southwest monsoon remained stalled along the Konkan coast, leaving the state without seasonal rainfall relief and temperatures climbing well above normal across multiple districts.
Monsoon Status
The southwest monsoon has made no significant progress since advancing to the Harne-Dapoli belt in coastal Maharashtra on June 6. The IMD attributed the pause to the absence of favourable atmospheric conditions for northward advancement. Mumbai, which typically sees monsoon onset around June 11, is still waiting, with no confirmed arrival date issued by the weather department.
The IMD said conditions are expected to become gradually more favourable over the next two to three days, with potential advancement into more parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh during that period.
Temperature Readings
Mumbai recorded a maximum temperature of 36 degrees Celsius on Friday — 3.5 degrees above seasonal normal. The Santacruz suburban station recorded 35.2 degrees, with a minimum of 30.2 degrees, indicating minimal overnight cooling. Coastal stations also recorded above-normal readings: Alibag at 37.2 degrees, Dahanu at 36.8 degrees, and Ratnagiri at 33.5 degrees.
Vidarbha recorded the most severe conditions in the state, with Akola and Wardha each registering 43.5 degrees Celsius. The IMD has issued heatwave alerts for the region, advising residents to avoid outdoor exposure during peak afternoon hours, stay hydrated, and follow local health advisories.
El Niño Warning
The monsoon stall aligns with the IMD's seasonal outlook. The department has forecast below-normal rainfall, approximately 90 per cent of the Long Period Average, for the June to September monsoon season, citing the developing El Niño. The World Meteorological Organisation has assigned an 80 per cent probability to El Niño strengthening through August and a 90 per cent probability of persistence through November. Farmers across Maharashtra have been advised to hold off on sowing operations, with widespread monsoon rainfall unlikely before June 15 at the earliest.
Northwest India
A western disturbance over north Haryana is bringing scattered rainfall to parts of northwest India through the weekend, with wet conditions expected across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. Despite the rainfall, heatwave conditions are forecast to persist over Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and parts of Andhra Pradesh. Maximum temperatures across northwest and central India are likely to rise further by four to six degrees Celsius through June 18 as the disturbance weakens.