17 June,2026 09:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The low-level south-westerly winds associated with the monsoon circulation have also weakened over the Arabian Sea. File Pic
The advance of the Southwest Monsoon across Maharashtra has slowed significantly due to unfavourable weather conditions, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The monsoon had advanced over parts of South Konkan and adjoining areas of South Madhya Maharashtra on June 8, 2026. However, its further progress into the remaining parts of the state has remained stalled over the past several days.
Meteorologists said the current monsoon flow lacks a strong surge from the Arabian Sea, which is usually responsible for carrying large amounts of moisture inland and triggering widespread rainfall.
The low-level south-westerly winds associated with the monsoon circulation have also weakened over the Arabian Sea.
As a result, moisture transport towards Maharashtra's coastal and interior regions has reduced considerably, an official statement said.
The IMD noted that the cross-equatorial flow over the western Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, a key source of moisture for the Southwest Monsoon, has weakened in recent days.
This reduction in moisture supply has contributed to subdued monsoon activity across much of Maharashtra.
Another major factor behind the delayed advance is the absence of significant monsoon-supporting weather systems.
Currently, there are no low-pressure areas, cyclonic circulations over the Arabian Sea or Bay of Bengal, or strong offshore troughs along the west coast that typically help the monsoon progress further inland, the weather department said.
The IMD also pointed to large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns, including the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), which are currently not providing strong support for monsoon advancement over Maharashtra.
These global weather patterns play an important role in influencing rainfall activity and monsoon movement across the Indian subcontinent.
Due to the prevailing conditions, rainfall activity across most parts of Maharashtra is expected to remain isolated during the next four to five days.
Many regions may continue to experience dry weather or only scattered showers until atmospheric conditions become more favourable, the IMD said.
Weather models indicate that rainfall activity could increase along the Konkan coast around June 24-25.
The IMD said it is continuously monitoring weather systems and will issue updated forecasts and warnings based on the latest observations and numerical weather prediction models.
The weather department has advised citizens, farmers and local authorities to regularly monitor official forecasts and warnings for the latest information on monsoon progress and rainfall activity.
