Maharashtra is on track to witness its earliest monsoon onset in over a decade, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting the arrival of the Southwest Monsoon in parts of the state within the next 2–3 days.
If realised, this would mark the state’s earliest monsoon entry since 2011 and 2013, when onset occurred on June 4. The IMD confirmed that the Southwest Monsoon advanced into Kerala on May 25, eight days ahead of its typical June 1 onset. The system is now poised to move into the central Arabian Sea, entire Goa, parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, remaining areas of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and the Northeast within the coming days. “This is the earliest monsoon advance in years for Maharashtra, similar to Kerala,” said S.D. Sanap, IMD scientist in Pune. “Goa is typically covered by June 5, but this year, the entire region could see monsoon conditions within the next few days. Naturally, Maharashtra will follow.”
The IMD also issued a yellow alert for Mumbai and Thane from May 24 to May 27, warning of thunderstorms and rainfall activity ahead of the monsoon’s arrival. Officials stressed that while early rains have already occurred, a formal monsoon onset is declared only when a “line of continuity” in rainfall and wind patterns is observed across interconnected regions. The criteria ensure the advancement is part of a sustained monsoon system rather than isolated pre-monsoon showers. Historically, monsoon onset over Maharashtra has occurred after June 5. The typical state-wide coverage date is around June 15. If the current conditions hold, 2025 may see the earliest monsoon onset for Maharashtra in 12 years.
Though the IMD has not pinpointed specific cities for initial onset, scientists say wind direction, rainfall intensity, and geographical consistency will determine where the official monsoon declaration begins in Maharashtra.
