Mumbai, May 26, 2025 — In a heartening turn of events, the southwest monsoon made its arrival in Maharashtra on Sunday, May 25, marking its earliest onset over the state in 35 years. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the rains reached Maharashtra just a day after their onset over Kerala — an unusually early arrival that has brought both surprise and relief to many.
The last time the monsoon hit Maharashtra this early was in 1990, when it arrived on May 20. This year’s timely rains have sparked optimism among farmers, residents, and authorities alike, especially after years marked by erratic weather patterns and delayed rainfall.
According to IMD scientist Sushma Nair, the monsoon has not only reached parts of Maharashtra but also progressed into several other regions, including the Arabian Sea, Karnataka, Goa, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. The monsoon’s northern limit now extends through Devgad, Belagavi, Haveri, Mandya, Dharmapuri, Chennai, Aizawl, and Kohima — a clear sign of its swift advance.
The IMD stated that conditions remain favorable for the monsoon to progress further into central Arabian Sea, more parts of Maharashtra including Mumbai, Karnataka including Bengaluru, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and northeastern states over the coming three days. Mumbai and the Konkan coast have already been experiencing heavy pre-monsoon showers over the past 48 hours, offering a welcome respite from the scorching summer heat.
This year’s monsoon season is also notable for being the earliest onset over Kerala since 2009, when it had arrived on May 23. Typically, the monsoon reaches Kerala around June 1, Maharashtra around June 7, and Mumbai by June 11. The early arrival has thus prompted cautious optimism across the agricultural and water resource sectors.
M Rajeevan, a veteran monsoon expert and former secretary at the Ministry of Earth Sciences, noted that such widespread monsoon coverage at the time of onset, while rare, is not unprecedented. “In 1971, the monsoon also covered a large swath of Karnataka and Maharashtra on its first day. The current active conditions are expected to persist until at least June 2, which will aid further monsoon advancement,” he explained.
As the state welcomes these early showers, the monsoon brings with it not only much-needed water but also a sense of renewal and hope. For farmers preparing their fields, for city dwellers seeking relief from the heat, and for millions who rely on the rhythm of the rains — this early arrival feels like a promise that nature, once again, is listening.
