Delayed monsoon keeps Delhi sweltering; IMD sees relief ahead
New Delhi: The southwest monsoon continues to play truant in Delhi, prolonging intense heat and humidity across the Capital Region even as conditions turn increasingly
New Delhi: The southwest monsoon continues to play truant in Delhi, prolonging intense heat and humidity across the Capital Region even as conditions turn increasingly favourable for its advance. The monsoon has missed its normal onset date over Delhi-NCR of 27 June, with meteorologists attributing the delay to the absence of a strong low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. The delayed arrival has pushed up daytime temperatures, while warm nights have added to heat stress. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday said conditions are expected to improve in the coming days, with a fresh western disturbance set to affect northwest India from 2 July and the monsoon likely to advance across parts of north India within the next 2–3 days. The weather bureau said that conditions are favourable for further advancement of southwest monsoon.
"Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of North Arabian Sea, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, remaining parts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand & Bihar, some parts of Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand during next 2 days and over some more parts of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, some parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, southeast Rajasthan and remaining parts of Gujarat during subsequent 2-3 days," said IMD in its latest update. According to the latest forecast, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab are likely to witness scattered rainfall between 30 June and 1 July, followed by fairly widespread to widespread showers from 2 July to 4 July. The IMD has also issued an isolated heavy rainfall alert for the region during 1-3 July, alongside thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-60 kmph.
Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are expected to receive widespread rainfall through 30 June-5 July, with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall forecast over parts of both states. Jammu & Kashmir is also likely to experience persistent rainfall, with heavy showers expected between 2 July and 4 July. Also Read | Monsoon begins with a 26% deficit In Uttar Pradesh, rainfall activity is expected to strengthen from 30 June, with heavy rainfall likely across eastern districts through 2 July and western parts until 2 July. Rajasthan is forecast to see an active monsoon phase, with heavy rainfall over eastern districts from 2 July to 5 July. Thundersqualls with wind speeds of up to 70 kmph are likely over eastern Rajasthan on 29 June and 1-2 July, while duststorm activity is expected over western Rajasthan between 2 July and 5 July.
