In this special episode of the Skymet Weather Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President – Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, discusses the progress of the 2025 Southwest Monsoon. The monsoon began with record-breaking speed, hitting both Kerala and Northeast India simultaneously on May 24 — eight days ahead of schedule. Within just two days, it reached Mumbai, much earlier than the usual June 11 arrival. Areas like Santacruz and Colaba recorded over 100 mm of rainfall, an unusual occurrence. Meanwhile, the Northeast faced flood-like conditions as a system in the Bay of Bengal triggered heavy rainfall across Konkan and Bangladesh. The Western Ghats and southern peninsula also witnessed intense early showers. However, the monsoon’s momentum suddenly stalled, and it has not progressed beyond Mumbai since.

This episode delves into the reasons behind the monsoon’s early surge, the sudden pause, what to expect in June, and which states are still awaiting rain. It also explores how this shift may impact agriculture, water availability, and daily life.

In this episode of the Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma delves into one of the most dangerous and deadly natural phenomena — lightning. This topic was selected based on audience suggestions, as incidents of lightning strikes rise sharply during the pre-monsoon season, often resulting in significant loss of life and property.

After earthquakes, lightning is considered one of the deadliest natural disasters. It is an electromagnetic phenomenon caused by an imbalance of electrical charges between clouds and the ground, leading to flashes of lightning and thunder. Did you know over 100 lightning strikes occur every second across the globe?

This episode also highlights lightning-prone regions in India such as Jharkhand, Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Northeast India.

Tune in to understand why lightning strikes, how it forms, and how to stay safe.

In this special episode of the Skymet Weather Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President of Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, discusses the early onset and widespread advance of Monsoon 2025. By May 24, the monsoon had already covered a large region, progressing faster than usual. Skymet had earlier forecasted an above-normal monsoon for 2025, and current data support this prediction.

This episode delves into how the monsoon is expected to behave through June, highlighting regions likely to receive above-average rainfall and those where delays or deficiencies may occur. It also covers record-breaking rain in Mumbai, the formation of a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal, and potential heavy rainfall over Northeast India. The episode concludes with insights into when and why the monsoon may pause later in the season.