Powerful western disturbance to bring rain, hailstorms across North India

Western disturbances slow monsoon, below-normal rain likely in central, north India

Western disturbances from the Mediterranean have slowed India's monsoon progression, delivering 26.5% below-normal rainfall to central and northern regions over the next two weeks. Delayed monsoon advance threatens crop-planting timelines in a country where half the farmland lacks irrigation and agriculture represents half the population's livelihood.