Contextualising the June rainfall during Indian Summer Monsoon 2024

Abstract Meteorological conditions in June shape the progress of the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM). In 2024, despite an early onset aided by Cyclone Remal , unfavourable regional tropospheric circulation anomalies slowed the progress of ISM and suppressed the subsequent rainfall, leading to below normal (−11%) rainfall in June. Principal component analyses and composite patterns, identified based on long‐term data, indicate that early‐phase rainfall suppression is often associated with upper tropospheric cyclonic anomalies centred over the Iran–Afghanistan region to the northwest of India, and concurrent lower tropospheric anticyclonic anomalies over the core monsoon zone. In contrast, June months with excess rainfall are characterised by opposite circulation anomalies. Overall, interactions between large‐ and regional‐scale circulation anomalies dictate the early phase of ISM and shape its transition towards the mature phase.