Monsoon Departs From Delhi in Earliest Withdrawal Since 2002

New Delhi: The Southwest Monsoon has officially withdrawn from Delhi, marking the earliest retreat from the national capital since 2002, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The withdrawal was declared on September 23, 2026, two days ahead of Delhi's normal withdrawal date of September 25.

The last time the monsoon withdrew from Delhi earlier was in 2002, when it retreated on September 20. In 2025, the withdrawal took place on September 24.

Monsoon withdrawal line moves further south

The IMD said the monsoon has also withdrawn from most parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, besides the entire national capital and some areas of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

The withdrawal line currently passes through Gurdaspur, Chandigarh, Muzaffarnagar, Aligarh, Dholpur, Udaipur, Deesa and Naliya, among other locations.

According to the IMD, the normal withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon from northwest India begins around September 17. The monsoon generally retreats from most parts of the country by around October 15, although southern India typically sees the withdrawal later.

What does monsoon withdrawal mean?

The withdrawal of the monsoon does not mean that rainfall will immediately stop across Delhi and neighbouring areas.

The IMD determines withdrawal after observing several conditions, including a sustained reduction in rainfall, a fall in atmospheric moisture and the establishment of an anticyclone in the lower atmosphere. Further withdrawal requires a continued period of dry weather and a consistent pattern of retreat.

For Delhi, the IMD forecast for September 23-29 showed generally clear to partly cloudy conditions initially, with the possibility of thunderstorms and rain towards September 27-28.

Delhi records above-normal seasonal rainfall

Despite the early withdrawal, Delhi has not experienced a deficient monsoon overall.

The Union Territory recorded an average of 562.7 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 22, around 6% above its normal 532.3 mm. At Safdarjung, Delhi's base weather station, rainfall reached 728.6 mm, nearly 14% above the normal 640.4 mm.

The early retreat therefore does not necessarily indicate that Delhi had a weak monsoon season. Rainfall totals can remain above normal even when the monsoon withdraws relatively early.

Monsoon deficit persists in several parts of India

The early withdrawal comes as rainfall remains uneven across the country. India had recorded an overall 15% monsoon rainfall deficit as of September 22, with 706.9 mm of rainfall against a normal 832.4 mm for the period.

Northwest India had a 10% deficit, while the deficit was larger in east and northeast India and the southern peninsula. Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan had recorded deficits of about 40%, 24% and 21%, respectively, as of September 22.

Bay of Bengal system may still bring rain

The monsoon's retreat from Delhi comes while a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is moving westwards. The IMD said the system was expected to cross the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast near Kalingapatnam on the night of September 23.

Weather conditions in Delhi and adjoining areas could therefore still change despite the formal withdrawal of the monsoon. The IMD's declaration marks a broader seasonal transition rather than an immediate end to every spell of rain.