New Delhi: After thunderstorms and rain brought much-needed relief from the intense summer heat across Delhi-NCR on Thursday, attention has now shifted to the arrival of the southwest monsoon in the national capital region.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon is expected to reach Delhi and adjoining NCR cities between June 25 and June 30, marking the likely onset of the rainy season in northern India.

The forecast comes after the southwest monsoon made its onset over Kerala on June 4, three days later than its normal date and five days behind the IMD's earlier projection. Despite the delayed start, weather officials remain optimistic that the monsoon will advance across most parts of the country by the third week of June.

As per the IMD's latest monsoon progression map, Delhi is likely to receive its first monsoon showers during the final week of June. The same timeline has been projected for neighbouring NCR cities, including Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad.

The monsoon is also expected to advance further into parts of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh during the same period. Areas of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh could also begin receiving rainfall as the monsoon system moves northwards.

Last year, the southwest monsoon reached Delhi on June 29, two days later than its normal onset date of June 27, based on the long-period average for 1961-2019.

With temperatures remaining high despite recent rain spells, residents across Delhi-NCR will be closely watching the monsoon's progress over the coming weeks.