Despite the current slowdown, meteorologists remain optimistic that conditions could become favorable for the monsoon to advance again within the next 4–5 days, with progress likely resuming between June 21 and June 23.

Third Consecutive Year of June Slowdown

The western branch of the monsoon has faced interruptions in recent years as well. In 2024, its advance slowed for about 8–9 days during the second week of June. In 2025, it remained nearly stationary along the Maharashtra coast for almost three weeks.

Weather experts note that such pauses do not necessarily indicate a weak monsoon season. Instead, rainfall often becomes concentrated into fewer days, resulting in more intense downpours when weather systems become active.

Why Has the Monsoon Stalled?

Meteorologists attribute the slowdown primarily to the delayed activation of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), a crucial weather system that normally shifts northward by mid-June and helps draw moisture-laden winds toward India.

Satellite observations from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also suggest that El Niño conditions are beginning to develop, which can lead to prolonged dry spells and uneven rainfall distribution across the country.

While thunderstorm activity remains active over eastern India, cloud cover has been relatively weak across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and parts of western India, slowing the monsoon's progress.

Monsoon Progress So Far

After arriving in Kerala on June 4, the southwest monsoon advanced rapidly through 19 states within 14 days. However, it has remained stalled near Bhadrachalam in Telangana for the past week.

As a result, monsoon rains have been delayed in several regions, including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and parts of central India, where farmers are eagerly awaiting widespread rainfall for sowing activities.

Pre-Monsoon Activity Continues

Even as the monsoon remains stalled, pre-monsoon showers have been reported in several states, including:

• Madhya Pradesh
• Uttar Pradesh
• Bihar
• Rajasthan
• Himachal Pradesh
• Chhattisgarh

Heavy rainfall affected parts of Bihar on Wednesday, while strong winds caused localized damage in Rajasthan, including uprooted trees and collapsed structures in Jaipur and Udaipur.

Heatwave Conditions Persist

The delayed monsoon has allowed heatwave conditions to continue across large parts of the country. Temperatures exceeded 40°C in several cities across:

• Uttar Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh
• Bihar
• Jharkhand
• Odisha
• Telangana
• Andhra Pradesh
• Maharashtra

The highest temperature recorded in the country was 45°C in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

Rainfall Forecast

June 19

• Rain likely over Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Sikkim.
• Heavy rainfall expected in parts of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karnataka.
• Thunderstorms and gusty winds likely in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

June 20

• Heavy rain expected in Sikkim, North Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya.
• Thunderstorms with strong winds likely in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
• Rainfall activity may continue in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

When Will the Monsoon Advance Again?

According to IMD, the current pause is linked to upper-atmospheric jet stream patterns, which are influencing the movement of monsoon clouds. Once these fast-moving winds weaken, monsoon currents are expected to strengthen and advance into Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and adjoining regions.

Weather experts expect the next significant phase of monsoon advancement to begin by the third week of June, bringing relief from intense heat and improving conditions for agriculture across much of India.

Meteorological department warns of thunder, heavy winds across state; Korba tree-fall kills three, Raipur likely to see 41°C daytime high

Relief from the recent heatwave was short-lived as the State Meteorological Department on Sunday forecast thunder, lightning, heavy winds and localized rain over the next five days, with gusts likely reaching 50–60 kilometres per hour in parts of the state. The warning comes a day after a sudden storm in Korba’s Pali police station area caused a fatal tree collapse that killed three youths.

What happened in Korba
Saturday evening’s storm struck without much lead time, sending people rushing for cover. According to local police and hospital sources, three young men who took shelter under a large roadside tree in Pali were fatally injured when a heavy branch snapped and fell on them. Initial reports say the men were pronounced dead at the scene; their identities are being verified and an inquest has been ordered, officials said.

Other local impacts
Across the state, showers and gusty winds were reported in Raipur, Sarguja and Pendra. In Pendra, authorities reported that strong winds tore off a tin shed and uprooted at least one tree. No casualties were reported from those incidents. Meteorological data for the past 24 hours showed Durg recorded the highest daytime temperature at 42.6°C, while Pendra Road logged a minimum of 24.2°C.

What the forecast says
The meteorological department issued a fresh advisory early Sunday, warning of thunder, lightning, heavy winds and isolated heavy rainfall over various districts through the coming five days. Officials said two trough systems — one extending from central Pakistan to the Andhra coast and another active in the upper levels from the Bay of Bengal to the Lakshadweep region — are pumping moisture into the region and destabilising the atmosphere.

“Due to these systems, we expect convective activity across Chhattisgarh. Wind gusts of 50–60 km/h are possible at isolated places, along with lightning and scattered heavy showers,” a state meteorological official told reporters. The forecast specifically named Raipur, Durg, Korba, Sarguja and adjacent districts as areas likely to be affected.

Local advisory and safety tips
State authorities urged people to avoid standing under trees, stay away from power poles and open fields during storms, and secure loose objects that can be blown away by strong winds. The department also advised farmers to protect standing crops and fishermen to avoid venturing into seas or large reservoirs until advisories are lifted.

Raipur outlook
For the state capital, forecasters expect the sky to remain partly to mostly cloudy on Sunday with chances of thunder, dust squalls or brief heavy rain during the day. Raipur’s daytime temperature is likely to hover around 41°C, with a minimum near 28°C, offering modest relief from the more extreme highs recorded earlier in the week.

Wider context
Weather officials said daytime temperatures across the state have already fallen by 2–3 degrees Celsius in the last 24 hours, and another 2–3 degree drop is possible over the next two days as convective activity continues. However, they cautioned that the accompanying winds and lightning will pose hazards, especially where infrastructure is vulnerable.

Ground reaction
Residents in low-lying and open areas reported sudden changes in wind direction and rapid cloud build-up on Saturday evening. “The sky darkened within minutes and the wind hit so hard that sheets of the temporary market stalls started flapping,” said one trader in Pendra, who declined to be named. Local civic bodies said they are on alert and monitoring vulnerable trees and electricity lines.

What’s next
Authorities said district administrations have been asked to keep disaster response teams on standby and to coordinate with power and road departments for quick restoration work if needed. The meteorological department will review the situation daily and issue updates; people are being asked to follow local alerts and exercise caution during outdoor activities.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially released the AFCAT 02/2026 recruitment notification for the July 2027 batch, inviting applications from eligible candidates across India. This recruitment drive offers a significant opportunity for aspirants who wish to join the Indian Air Force as commissioned officers in Flying, Ground Duty Technical, and Ground Duty Non-Technical branches, along with NCC Special Entry and Meteorology roles.

The online application process has already begun and will remain open until 19 June 2026. Candidates interested in applying are advised to complete their registration well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues. The AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) is conducted twice a year to select officers for various branches of the Indian Air Force. Through AFCAT 02/2026, the Air Force aims to fill multiple vacancies across different categories, strengthening its operational and administrative capabilities.

Vacancy Details

The recruitment includes several posts under different branches. In the Flying Branch, a total of 35 vacancies have been announced, including 30 posts for male candidates and 5 for female candidates. This remains one of the most prestigious entry points for candidates aspiring to become pilots in the Indian Air Force.

For Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches, vacancies are distributed across Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education, and Weapon Systems branches. The Administration branch has 62 vacancies, making it one of the largest segments in this recruitment cycle. Other categories include Logistics with 6 posts, Accounts with 7 posts, Education with 3 posts, and Weapon Systems with 26 posts. Additionally, the Meteorology branch has 3 vacancies, while NCC Special Entry also provides opportunities based on AFCAT and CDSE vacancy structures. The Ground Duty Technical branch vacancies for Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics and Mechanical) will be announced soon, as per the official notification.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility requirements vary depending on the branch applied for. For the Flying Branch, candidates must have a graduation degree in any discipline with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level, or a BE/BTech degree from a recognized university. The age limit for Flying Branch candidates is between 20 to 24 years as of 1 July 2027. For Ground Duty Technical Branch (Aeronautical Engineering), candidates must have secured at least 60% marks in Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level and must hold a four-year engineering or technology degree. Eligible disciplines include Mechanical, Aeronautical, or equivalent engineering fields.

For Ground Duty Non-Technical branches such as Administration and Logistics, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in any stream with a minimum of 60% marks. For Accounts, a B.Com degree with at least 60% marks is required. The age limit for these branches ranges from 20 to 26 years. NCC Special Entry candidates must hold an NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate, along with fulfilling other eligibility requirements for the Flying Branch. For the Meteorology Branch, candidates must meet specific academic qualifications as mentioned in the official notification.

Physical Standards

The Indian Air Force has also defined physical eligibility criteria for candidates. The minimum height requirement is 157.5 cm for male candidates and 152 cm for female candidates. Candidates must also meet medical fitness standards as per Air Force regulations.

Application Process

Candidates applying for AFCAT 02/2026 must complete the online application process through the official recruitment portal. The process includes registration, filling personal and academic details, uploading scanned documents such as photographs, signatures, and identity proof, and paying the application fee if applicable. Applicants are advised to carefully review all details before submitting the form. Any incorrect information may lead to rejection of the application.

Selection Process

The selection process for AFCAT includes a written examination followed by an Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) interview. Candidates who qualify the written test will be called for further rounds, which include psychological tests, group discussions, and personal interviews. Final selection is based on overall performance and medical fitness.

Important Instructions

Candidates must ensure they meet all eligibility conditions before applying. It is essential to read the official notification thoroughly for branch-wise details, syllabus, and selection procedure. The Indian Air Force has also advised applicants to keep scanned copies of all required documents ready before starting the application process. After successful submission, candidates should take a printout of the application form for future reference.

The AFCAT 02/2026 recruitment offers a golden opportunity for young aspirants to join one of the most respected defense forces in the world. With multiple branches and career paths available, this recruitment drive is expected to attract a large number of applicants. Interested candidates should apply before the deadline of 19 June 2026 and begin their preparation for the upcoming examination.

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