Weather Update: Monsoon Set To Advance Further From June 18

After a slight delay in its arrival over Kerala, the southwest monsoon is now expected to progress deeper into the southern peninsula and eastern regions of the country starting from Sunday.

The arrival of the monsoon is likely to bring relief to many major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata from the scorching sun, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The remnant of cyclone Biparjoy is expected to bring rain over parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh starting Sunday, and help the monsoon advance over east India currently in the grip of a severe heat wave,said IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatara.

The monsoon's progress has remained sluggish since May 11 in the absence of any weather system over the Bay of Bengal.

Biparjoy's remnant is likely to move north-eastwards and give rainfall in central and east Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, he said.

"It may happen... we are monitoring the situation. There could be some other parameters too, such as an increase in cross-equatorial flow over the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. That can also help advance the monsoon in addition to this (remnant of the cyclone)," he added.

Weather experts have predicted mild monsoon onset over Kerala to the cyclone. However, the IMD thinks otherwise. The monsoon has so far covered the entire northeast, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and a few parts Bihar and West Bengal.

The IMD has issued an orange alert in South West Garo Hill, West Garo Hill, South Garo Hill, East Garo Hill, West Khasi Hill, RI Bhoi and North Garo Hill in Meghalaya.

A red alert was sounded in South West Khasi Hills, East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hill.

A Yellow Alert has been issued for Una, Solan, Kangra, Bilaaspur, Shimla, Kullu, Mamirpur and Chamba in Himachal Pradesh.