Shimla IMD Issues Yellow Alert; Southwest Monsoon on Track to Reach Himachal by June 25
The Meteorological Department in Shimla has forecast that the Southwest Monsoon is advancing normally across the country and is expected to hit Himachal Pradesh around its traditional schedule of June 25. Giving a detailed update on the state’s weather layout, Shobhit Katiyar, the Head of the Meteorological Department in Shimla, confirmed that while no extreme weather events are anticipated over the immediate five-day window, a localized yellow alert has been active for specific mid and lower-hill zones.
The advisory comes as temperatures across the hill state bounce back to near-normal levels following a brief cool spell.
Weather Forecast and Yellow Alert Breakdown (June 16–20)
The IMD chief detailed the short-term precipitation and atmospheric patterns governing the region:
- Intermittent Rain and Thunderstorms: No severe or extreme weather activity is expected between June 16 and June 20. However, light rainfall accompanied by scattered thunderstorm activity will continue intermittently over parts of the lower and mid-hill areas.
- Yellow Alert Issued: A yellow alert has been explicitly issued for June 18 and June 19 due to the likelihood of sudden thunderstorms and lightning. The alert primarily covers four major districts:
- Kangra
- Kullu
- Mandi
- Shimla
Temperature Trajectory: Reaching Near-Normal Levels
After experiencing below-normal temperatures in early June, a sharp thermal recovery has been recorded across the state:
The Thermal Shift: On June 14, several locations across Himachal Pradesh recorded a sudden increase of around 4 to 5 degrees Celsius, effectively pulling daytime temperatures back to near-normal baselines. Over the next four to five days, temperatures are expected to rise slightly higher in some lower and mid-hill districts, while remaining largely stable across the higher alpine zones.
National Monsoon Advance and Himachal Schedule
Providing a macro-perspective on the 2026 Southwest Monsoon, Katiyar stated that the seasonal wind system is executing a healthy and steady progression across the Indian subcontinent:
| Regional Coverage Status | Geographic Milestone Achieved (As of June 15) | Expected Arrival |
| Southern Peninsula | Completed — Entire southern peninsular belt fully covered. | Achieved |
| Northeast India | Completed — Covered all northeastern states. | Achieved |
| Eastern India | In Progress — Formally entered eastern states and moving smoothly. | Active |
| Himachal Pradesh | Awaiting Entry — Current atmospheric indicators show it will arrive right on time. | Around June 25 |
With the monsoon pacing normally, agricultural departments have advised local farmers in the lower valleys to prepare their fields for paddy nursery sowings and pre-monsoon kharif crop management in accordance with the June 25 timeline.
