Planning
Weather, Heat and Monsoon: Planning the Shutdown Window
Build weather into the window. IMD's normal dates are monsoon over Kerala on 1 June, over the whole country on 8 July, and withdrawal starting from West Rajasthan on 17 September. The UAE banned open-air midday work from 12:30 to 3:00 pm between 15 June and 15 September in 2026. OSHA and NIOSH stress acclimatization, water, rest and shade; cranes follow manufacturer limits; stay sheltered 30 minutes after the last thunder.
How MaintWiz helps: The MaintWiz shutdown module shows the critical path with float, so a weather delay on outdoor work is visible against the finish date.
By Jai Balachandran · Technical review: Murali Nerur Pasupathy · Published · Last reviewed
What MaintWiz adds:Critical path and floatReadiness gatesPermits and isolationsChecklists with readings
Dates and rules
Which published weather dates and rules should the plan use?
Dates are normals or last year's actuals; check the current year before you fix a window.
| Item | Published value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Normal monsoon onset over Kerala | 1 June (standard deviation about 7 days) | IMD Monsoon 2025 report |
| Normal date the monsoon covers all India | 8 July | IMD Monsoon 2025 report |
| Normal start of withdrawal, West Rajasthan | 17 September | IMD Monsoon 2025 report |
| 2025 actual: onset, withdrawal start, complete withdrawal | 24 May, 14 September, 16 October | IMD Monsoon 2025 report |
| UAE midday ban, 2026 | 15 June to 15 September, 12:30 to 3:00 pm | Khaleej Times, reporting the ministry |
| NIOSH acclimatization, new workers | 20 percent of exposure on day 1, plus 20 points a day | NIOSH |
| NIOSH acclimatization, experienced workers | 50, 60, 80 and 100 percent over days 1 to 4 | NIOSH |
| Lightning | Shelter until 30 minutes after the last thunder | OSHA 3863, NOAA |
| Scaffolds in storms or high winds | No work unless a competent person approves, with fall arrest or wind screens | OSHA 1926.451(f)(12) |
Planning
How should the window and the work plan allow for weather?
OSHA and HSE set no fixed wind speed for cranes or scaffolds: the competent person decides, using the manufacturer's limits.
- India: avoid opening large equipment to the open air in the monsoon where the work allows, using the IMD normal dates as the starting point and the current year's forecast as the check.
- Gulf: plan hot-weather work for early or night shifts and respect the midday ban.
- Heat: schedule heavy work earlier, use shorter shifts with shaded rest, provide water, monitor heat and train crews; bring new workers in gradually.
- Cranes and lifts: the competent person adjusts for wind and the load charts and manufacturer limits apply; UK HSE points to a planned lift under BS 7121.
- Lightning: have a written protocol and shelter until 30 minutes after the last thunder.
- Add contingency days for weather to the critical path for outdoor work, and keep the weather rules in the daily briefing.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When does the monsoon normally reach and leave India?
IMD's normal dates are 1 June for onset over Kerala, 8 July for covering the whole country, and 17 September for withdrawal to begin from West Rajasthan. Actual dates vary by year; 2025 ran 24 May, 27 June and 14 September.
What is the UAE midday work ban?
For 2026, the ministry's ban stopped work in direct sunlight and open areas from 12:30 to 3:00 pm between 15 June and 15 September, with exemptions for work that cannot be paused for technical reasons.
Is there a set wind speed at which cranes must stop?
OSHA's crane rule sets no fixed number: the competent person adjusts operations for wind and the manufacturer's limits and load charts apply.
How should crews be brought into hot weather work?
NIOSH advises a gradual build-up: new workers start at 20 percent of normal exposure and add 20 points a day; experienced workers start at 50 percent and reach full exposure on day 4.
Sources
Sources
IMD, OSHA, NIOSH and UK HSE pages and a press report of the UAE ministry rule, read on 30 October 2026.
- India Meteorological Department, Monsoon 2025: a report
- OSHA, Heat exposure
- NIOSH, Heat stress: acclimatization
- OSHA, Lightning safety when working outdoors (OSHA 3863)
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.1417 Cranes and derricks: operation
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.451 Scaffolds: general requirements
- Khaleej Times, UAE midday break starts June 15
- UK HSE, Lifting operations
Plan this work in the shutdown module
Book a demo and bring your next shutdown scope. We will show how the work, the permits and the results sit in one plan.