Early Monsoon 2025 Latest News
- The southwest monsoon covered the entire country by June 29, nine days earlier than its usual date of July 8.Â
- This is only the tenth time since 1960 that the monsoon achieved nationwide coverage in June.
Early Onset in Kerala Set the Pace
- The monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 24, eight days earlier than usual, driven by an active Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) phase in mid-May.Â
- This early onset laid the foundation for the monsoon’s rapid progress.
- Monsoon Progress: Mostly Ahead of Schedule
- South, East, and Northeast India saw early arrival.
- Northwest India was near normal.
- Central India witnessed slight delays.
- Â
Key Drivers of the Monsoon’s Rapid Advance
- The southwest monsoon covered the entire country by June 29, nine days ahead of its normal schedule of July 8.Â
- This marks only the tenth instance since 1960 that nationwide monsoon coverage occurred in June.
Low Pressure Systems
- India experienced five low-pressure systems in June.Â
- These act as moisture magnets, drawing in rain-bearing winds and accelerating monsoon movement inland.
Active Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO)
- MJO is a moving system of clouds, rainfall, winds, and pressure near the equator that travels eastward.Â
- When active near India, it enhances monsoon by increasing cloud cover and moisture, leading to stronger rainfall.Â
- An active MJO phase significantly boosts monsoon onset and progression.
- June continued to see an active MJO, enhancing cloud formation and pushing rainfall northwards, aiding monsoon spread.
Favourable Monsoon Trough Position
- The monsoon trough is an elongated low-pressure area extending from northwest India to the Bay of Bengal.Â
- It plays a key role in determining rainfall distribution during the monsoon.Â
- A favourable monsoon trough position, especially when it shifts south of its normal, helps draw in moisture-laden winds from the oceans, intensifying rainfall over central and northern India.Â
- Its position influences the strength, spread, and duration of monsoon rains.
- The monsoon trough remained south of its normal position, facilitating increased moisture inflow and early rainfall across regions.
Neutral ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) Condition
- ENSO is a climate pattern involving temperature fluctuations in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, with three phases: El Niño, La Niña, and Neutral.
- A neutral ENSO phase means sea surface temperatures are close to average.Â
- This phase neither suppresses nor excessively enhances rainfall, allowing the Indian monsoon to progress normally, supporting stable and widespread rainfall patterns.
- ENSO was in a neutral phase, supporting normal monsoon rainfall.
Neutral IOD (Indian Ocean Dipole) Conditions
- An is a climate phenomenon marked by differences in sea surface temperatures between the western and eastern Indian Ocean.Â
- It has positive, negative, and neutral phases.
- A neutral IOD phase means there is little to no temperature difference between the two regions, resulting in minimal influence on the Indian monsoon.Â
- This allows monsoon rainfall to be primarily driven by other favorable factors like MJO and ENSO.
- This year, IOD also remained neutral, having minimal impact—neither enhancing nor suppressing rains.
Conclusion
- This year’s monsoon has been marked by early onset, rapid progression, sudden pauses, and localised weather disasters.Â
- With much of the season still ahead, it remains uncertain whether the pattern will stabilise or intensify further.
Early Monsoon 2025 FAQs
Q1: What caused early monsoon in 2025?
Ans: Active MJO, multiple low-pressure systems, and favorable monsoon trough helped the monsoon advance rapidly across India.
Q2: What is the role of MJO in monsoon?
Ans: MJO brings increased moisture and cloud cover, enhancing monsoon strength and rainfall across India during its active phase.
Q3: How does ENSO affect Indian monsoon?
Ans: Neutral ENSO conditions help maintain stable rainfall, unlike El Niño, which suppresses monsoon activity across India.
Q4: Why is monsoon trough important?
Ans: Its southward position helps pull moisture-laden winds inland, boosting rainfall in central and northern India.
Q5: Did IOD play a role in the 2025 monsoon?
Ans: IOD remained neutral, having minimal influence, allowing MJO and low-pressure systems to dominate monsoon dynamics.