The Northeast monsoon withdrawal has begun, with the India Meteorological Department indicating that the southwest monsoon is gradually retreating from the region while rainfall is expected to continue across several states through the coming days.
The withdrawal line currently passes through Dhubri district in western Assam. In its latest bulletin, the IMD said conditions were becoming favourable for the monsoon to retreat further from the remaining parts of the country.
The department has forecast isolated to scattered rainfall over Arunachal Pradesh from October 14 to 20. Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura are expected to receive isolated to scattered rain between October 14 and 18.
The withdrawal line identified by the IMD passes through 27.0°N/90.5°E, Dhubri, Kolkata, Angul, Khammam, Honavar and 14.0°N/73.0°E. The line marks the advancing edge of the region from which the southwest monsoon is withdrawing.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Guwahati, light rain and thundershowers are very likely at isolated places across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram on Thursday. Dry weather is expected to prevail over Tripura on the same day.
The IMD said the complete withdrawal of the monsoon from the Northeast is likely to occur close to the normal timeline. In the past five years, the earliest complete withdrawal from the region was recorded on October 14 in both 2024 and 2025. The monsoon withdrew on October 17 in 2023, October 20 in 2022 and October 23 in 2021.
The continuing rainfall forecast means that localised showers and thunderstorms remain possible even as the broader monsoon system retreats. The latest update provides the immediate weather outlook for residents and civic agencies across the Northeast, with rainfall conditions varying significantly between states and districts.
The IMD and the Regional Meteorological Centre, Guwahati, will continue to issue updates as the withdrawal progresses and rainfall conditions change across the region.
