Chandigarh Bids Adieu to Monsoon: A Look Back at a Remarkably Wet Season

Chandigarh is poised to bid a fond farewell to the southwest monsoon, with forecasters indicating its complete withdrawal from the city by the upcoming weekend. After a season that has left a lasting impression with its intensity and volume of rainfall, residents are preparing for a definitive shift to drier, post-monsoon conditions.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon's departure, anticipated around September 16-17, is slightly later than its usual withdrawal date of September 12.

This delay, however, comes as no surprise given the season's overall pattern of late arrivals and extended wet spells that characterized much of the past few months.

This year’s monsoon has been truly remarkable for Chandigarh, delivering a staggering 1091.9 mm of rain between June 1 and September 14.

This figure stands significantly higher, by a substantial 33%, compared to the normal seasonal average of 821.2 mm. The city truly quenched its thirst after a monsoon that itself arrived on June 25, a noticeable 17 days behind its typical onset schedule, only to unleash its full force in the subsequent weeks.

The season wasn't without its dramatic moments.

July, in particular, witnessed a historic deluge that broke rainfall records, leading to widespread waterlogging and challenging conditions across the region. These intense downpours contributed substantially to the elevated seasonal totals, making 2023 one of the wetter monsoon periods in recent memory and ensuring the city's green cover flourished.

As the monsoon makes its graceful exit, the IMD predicts predominantly dry weather for Chandigarh and its surrounding areas.

While the occasional isolated light shower cannot be entirely ruled out in the immediate aftermath, the general trend will be towards clearer skies, diminishing humidity, and more settled conditions. Looking ahead to October, the forecast suggests that Haryana, Chandigarh, and Punjab can expect near-normal rainfall, accompanied by temperatures that are likely to be slightly above average, hinting at a prolonged warmth before the eventual onset of winter's chill.

Chandigarh now transitions from the lush, rain-soaked landscapes of the past few months to the crisp, cooler air that characterises the autumn and early winter.

The withdrawal of the monsoon signals not just a change in weather, but also the beginning of a new chapter in the city’s annual climatic cycle, leaving behind memories of a truly eventful and profoundly wet rainy season.