Featured explainer · Q&A
Why is the monsoon taking so long to leave this year?
The retreat usually begins in mid-September. This year it has stalled over central India. Here is what is going on, and what it means for you.
In five questions
QWhat does monsoon withdrawal mean?
AForecasters declare the monsoon has withdrawn from a region when rain stops for five consecutive days, winds turn dry and northwesterly, and humidity drops.
QWhy has it stalled?
AA persistent low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal keeps feeding moist air inland. Until it weakens, the dry winds cannot push through.
QIs this unusual?
ALate withdrawals have become more frequent over the past decade, though scientists caution against tying any single season to a long-term trend.
QWhat does it mean for farmers?
AWet soil delays wheat and mustard sowing in the north. Good reservoir levels, however, mean better irrigation through winter.
QAnd for cities?
AExpect more humid days, occasional heavy showers and a slower start to the winter smog season in the north.