Goa, June 29 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast favourable conditions for the southwest monsoon to advance into several northern states over the next five to six days, offering relief to regions awaiting seasonal rainfall.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the IMD said the monsoon is expected to progress into more parts of the North Arabian Sea, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand within the next two to three days. Thereafter, it is likely to extend further into additional areas of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, as well as parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and southeast Rajasthan over the following two to three days.

Despite the expected advance of the monsoon, the weather agency has also issued a he...