New Delhi, Oct 6 (IANS): The withdrawal of the southwest monsoon has commenced on Wednesday against the normal date of September 17, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

"In view of the establishment of an anti-cyclonic circulation in the lower tropospheric levels over western parts of northwest India and substantial reduction in moisture content & rainfall, we can say the withdrawal of southwest monsoon has commenced today," the IMD said in a release.

The IMD had revised the date of withdrawal of the southwest monsoon last year to September 17.

However, this is not the first time there is a delayed withdrawal. The record for late withdrawal of monsoon is from 2019, when withdrawal had taken place on October 9 and prior to that, it was in 1961 that the SW monsoon withdrawal date was October 1.

Unlike the process of onset of monsoon, which is very slow, the withdrawal of monsoon need not be that slow, the IMD has maintained and said, generally, the complete withdrawal of the southwest monsoon happens by October 12.

After October 12, the stage is set for commencement of northeast monsoon - that brings in rains mostly to Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.