Patna: The arrival of the southwest monsoon in Bihar has hit a temporary standstill, with meteorologists warning that the state may face a longer-than-expected wait for sustained rainfall. Hopes raised by light pre-monsoon showers on Monday night quickly faded by Tuesday, as weather patterns stalled.
Experts at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) say the monsoon has once again halted at the Bengal border, mirroring last year’s pattern. The key culprit appears to be weakened easterly winds, which are essential for driving moisture-laden clouds into the region.
Ashish Kumar, a meteorologist at IMD Patna, said strong westerly winds currently sweeping from the Arabian Sea toward the Bay of Bengal are disrupting the flow of easterlies. This disruption has effectively robbed the monsoon system of its momentum, delaying its advance into Bihar.
“As long as the easterlies remain weak and lack moisture, the monsoon is unlikely to progress further,” Kumar explained.
In the meantime, unstable weather is expected to persist across much of the state. The IMD has issued an orange alert for eastern Bihar, warning of strong winds and possible stormy conditions, with gusts reaching speeds of 30–40 km/h. A yellow alert is in place for the rest of the state.
The next 48 hours are expected to be weather-sensitive and variable.
