The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed the arrival of the southwest monsoon in Kerala on Thursday (June 4, 2026). This is three days later than the normal onset date of June 1 and four days behind the date the department itself had forecast.
As heavy rains lashed various parts of Kerala since the previous night, the IMD on Thursday (June 4, 2026) issued an orange alert for Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts for three hours.
Also Read: Why southwest monsoon arrival matters for India?
The IMD had earlier said the monsoon onset over Kerala would take place on May 26. However, it was delayed, and the department stated on May 29 that the onset could occur the following week. The IMD stated that India is expected to see 90% of the long-period average (LPA) this year.
Also Read: Monsoon 2026: How to track clouds with IMD’s INSAT imagery?
Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 29.7 degrees Celsius on Thursday (June 4, 2026), with the weather office issuing a yellow alert for rain and thunderstorm.
After a delay of three days from the normal onset date of June 1, the southwest monsoon set in over Kerala on Thursday (June 4, 2026).
The monsoon has advanced into parts of the southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, some parts of the west-central and east-central Arabian Sea, the entire Lakshadweep Islands, Kerala and Mahe, some parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the remaining parts of the Comorin area, the southeast Bay of Bengal, and more parts of the southwest, west-central, east-central, and northeast Bay of Bengal, according to a weather bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
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Orange alert issued for six Kerala districts as southwest monsoon arrives, bringing heavy rainfall and favorable conditions for further advance.
The southwest monsoon set in over Kerala on Thursday (June 4, 2026), the India Meteorological Department announced.
This is three days later than the normal onset date of June 1 and four days behind the date the department itself had forecast.
On May 15, the IMD had predicted the monsoon would arrive over Kerala on May 26, with a model error of plus or minus four days. The actual onset on June 4 overshot even the upper bound of that window, May 30, by four days. It is the first time since 2015 that the department has missed its onset call beyond the error margin; its operational forecasts had been accurate every year from 2005 to 2025 save that one lapse.
- The Hindu Bureau
Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 29.7 degrees Celsius on Thursday (June 4, 2026), with the weather office issuing a yellow alert for rain and thunderstorms.
The maximum temperature is expected to settle around 38 degrees Celsius.
Station-wise data showed a minimum temperature of 27.6 degrees Celsius at Palam, 0.4 degrees above normal; 28.4 degrees Celsius at Lodhi Road, 1.4 degrees above normal; 27.5 degrees Celsius at Ridge, 1.4 degrees above normal; and 28.4 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar, 2.3 degrees above normal.
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Delhi issues a yellow alert for rain and thunderstorms as temperatures rise to 38°C; AQI remains moderate at 147.
A five-storey building under construction collapsed at Pambanar, near Peerumedu in Idukki, Kerala, around 3.30 a.m. on Thursday (June 4, 2026). According to officials, no casualties were reported as no workers were staying in the building at the time.
While the structure was completely destroyed, a family living in a nearby house had a narrow escape. The building is owned by Pambanar resident Agnal.
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A five-storey building under construction collapses in Idukki, Kerala; fortunately, no casualties were reported.
The southwest monsoon, which missed its predicted onset date of May 26 and the normal onset date of June 1 over Kerala this season, is finally set to begin on June 4, 2026.
As heavy rains lashed various parts of Kerala since the previous night, the IMD issued an orange alert in three districts of the State for the morning.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts for three hours.
The weather agency said that thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and maximum surface wind speeds reaching 40 kilometres per hour were likely in parts of the State.
Punjab Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains unveiled the State’s sewerage desilting drive, announcing that 2,200 km of sewer lines and 1,400 chronic hotspots across all cities and towns will be cleared before the rainy season.
Mr. Bains informed that the drive covers 800 kms of main trunk lines and 1,400 kms of branch lines inside mohallas.
The department has identified 1,400 chronic hotspots where sewage overflow is reported every monsoon, according to an official statement.
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The Palghar district administration has launched an awareness drive on lightning safety ahead of the monsoon after 27 people lost their lives in lightning strikes in the district between 2014 and 2025, a senior official said.
District Disaster Management Officer Vivekanand Kadam said a seminar on understanding lightning and preventing related fatalities was organised by the district disaster management department under the guidance of District Collector Indurani Jakhar and other senior officials.
Addressing participants, Mr. Kadam said the programme was aimed at educating citizens and frontline government personnel about the risks associated with lightning strikes.
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Photo credit: H.Vibhu
Pre-monsoon preparedness activities are being taken up in the State in a coordinated manner and all planned activities are on schedule, Minister for Local Self-Governments K.M. Shaji said in the Assembly on Tuesday (June 2, 2026). Read more
Published - June 04, 2026 06:56 am IST
Source: The Hindu - India News
