Monsoon 2026: When Will the Rains Arrive in Bihar and Mumbai? IMD Issues Latest Update

India’s southwest monsoon is advancing rapidly across the country, according to the latest update from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The monsoon has already reached North Bengal and several northeastern states, and it is expected to cover eastern, central and western India within the next three to four days. This progress is likely to bring widespread rain to several regions, including Bihar and Mumbai.

The IMD said the monsoon has now moved into the remaining northeastern states, all of Sikkim, and parts of sub-Himalayan West Bengal. Heavy rain alerts have been issued for North Bengal districts including Darjeeling, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar until June 13. Weather officials said favorable wind patterns and cyclonic circulation over the region are helping the monsoon move forward quickly.

In Bihar, the monsoon is expected to arrive on time, around June 13 to June 15. The state is already seeing pre-monsoon activity, including thunderstorms, rain and strengthening southwesterly winds. Meteorologists say the monsoon enters Bihar through the Bay of Bengal branch, with Purnia and Kishanganj usually among the first districts to receive it. Conditions remain favorable for the monsoon to reach the state soon.

For Mumbai and the western coast, the IMD said the monsoon is close to the city and may enter within the next few days. Mumbai’s normal monsoon arrival date is June 10, and the city may receive the season’s first full monsoon spell around June 11 to June 13. Rain alerts have been issued for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Pune, where thunderstorms, strong winds of 40 to 50 km per hour, and heavy showers are expected over the next two days. Parts of Mumbai are already experiencing pre-monsoon rainfall.

The IMD noted that the monsoon reached Kerala on June 4, three days later than usual, but has since progressed quickly across the country. Even though Bihar may get monsoon rains on schedule, the long-range outlook suggests that the state could see below-normal rainfall for the fifth consecutive year between June and September.

For the country as a whole, the IMD has predicted slightly below-average rainfall this year. It expects rainfall to be around 90 percent of the long-period average. The long-period average, based on rainfall data from 1971 to 2020, is 87 centimeters for India. If rainfall falls below 90 percent of this average, the IMD classifies it as deficient.

Meteorologists also say El Niño conditions may be developing this year, which could reduce monsoon rainfall in India. Despite that possibility, the current pace of the monsoon suggests a strong start to the season, with several regions likely to receive significant rain in the coming days.