The Southwest Monsoon has officially covered the entire State of Himachal Pradesh on July 1, 2026, marking its complete advance across the hill State six days later than the normal onset date of June 25.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon advanced into the remaining parts of Himachal Pradesh on July 1, bringing the entire State under its influence. The latest phase of the monsoon covered the remaining areas of Shimla district, including Shimla city, Sirmaur, Mandi, Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, and Kangra districts. It also extended across the entire districts of Solan, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Chamba.

The IMD had earlier indicated that conditions were favourable for the further advance of the Southwest Monsoon into the remaining parts of Himachal Pradesh over the next two to three days. The complete coverage of the State is expected to usher in widespread rainfall activity during the coming week. The weather office has also forecast widespread rainfall across Himachal Pradesh, with heavy to very heavy rain likely at isolated places over the next several days, while a fresh Western Disturbance is expected to affect northwest India from July 2, potentially enhancing rainfall activity across the State.

- ANI

Following the weather department’s alert, the Rudraprayag district administration has been put on high alert. With the onset of the monsoon, the district has been placed under Yellow and Orange alerts for different periods. Heavy rainfall has been continuing across several parts of the district, including Kedarnath.

In view of the prevailing weather conditions, the district administration and the Disaster Management Department are closely monitoring the situation through the control room, keeping a constant watch on the highways, the Kedarnath Yatra route, and other vulnerable areas. To ensure the safety of pilgrims and residents, all concerned departments and officials have been directed to remain on alert.

Earlier in the day, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Dehradun issued a heavy rainfall alert for the next four days (till July 4) in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district, with the district administration urging residents to remain vigilant.

In view of the forecast, the administration has advised people to avoid visiting rivers, streams and landslide-prone areas as a precautionary measure.

Officials have appealed to residents to exercise caution and follow advisories issued by the authorities to ensure their safety during the period of expected heavy rainfall.

The administration said it is closely monitoring the situation and urged the public to stay updated through official weather bulletins and alerts.

- ANI

Water levels in several rivers and their tributaries rose in Himachal Pradesh on July 1, 2026. The Swan river in Una district was flowing in full spate, prompting authorities to advise people against venturing close to it.

According to the State Emergency Response Operation Centre, 28 roads were closed in Mandi, 12 in Kullu, and two each in Lahaul and Spiti and Una districts. Heavy rain was recorded in several parts of the State since Tuesday evening. Nagrota Suriyan in Kangra district recorded the highest rainfall at 102.5 mm, followed by Ghamroor (95.2 mm), Guler (87.2 mm), Palampur (74.4 mm), Saloni (68.2 mm), Jogindarnagar (48 mm), Kahu (44.5 mm), Dehra Gopipur (38.3 mm), Berthin (37.4 mm) and Sujanpur Tira (36 mm), the officials said.

Rain also lashed the popular towns of Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala. Thunderstorms and lightning were reported from Kufri, Palampur, Kangra, Sundernagar, Jubberhatti and Bhuntar.

- PTI

Torrential rain lashed several parts of Himachal Pradesh, including the towns of Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala, leading to many roads being closed, river waters rising and electricity being disrupted, officials said on Wednesday (July 1, 2026).

Government and private schools that had closed because of the heat reopened but attendance was thin given the heavy rain.

With the southwest monsoon arriving in the hill State, there was no respite in sight. The local meteorological office issued an orange warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places from July 2-6, except for July 4.

-PTI

In the monsoon of 1997, the Central Pacific was running one of the fiercest fevers in its recorded history in the form of an El Niño so violent that, by every rule of thumb, India ought to have stared at one of its worst droughts. However, in the greatest of meteorological surprises, June-September monsoon rainfall ended up being surplus, about 2% above normal. The Director-General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, observes that it has “happened only once ever.” The agent of that escape sat not in the Pacific but in India’s backyard sea and is called the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). 

A massive traffic snarl was seen at the Western Express Highway, Santacruz East, due to heavy rainfall in Mumbai.

Amid the Orange Alert issued for July 2 and 3, dense clouds have gathered over Mandi town, indicating changing weather conditions. As of now, Beas River is flowing at its normal level, with no signs of flooding or an unusual rise in water levels till now.

Waterlogging was witnessed in the Wadala area of Mumbai due to heavy rainfall.

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 28.6℃ on Wednesday, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting a generally cloudy sky with moderate rain during the day.

The IMD also issued a yellow alert for strong surface winds during the afternoon and evening hours.

The minimum temperature was 26℃ at Palam, 28℃ at Lodhi Road, 24.5℃ at the Ridge, and 27.4℃ at Ayanagar, all within 1 degree of the seasonal average, weather data showed.

-PTI