The monsoon is just a few days away reaching Delhi and is predicted to bring heavy rains in the first 10 days, according to weather forecasters on Monday, news agency PTI reported.
Due to the lack of severe western disturbances, Delhi has gotten just 72.5 mm of rainfall since March 1 this year, compared to the usual of 107.3 mm.
The city had no rain in March and only 0.3 mm of precipitation in April, compared to the monthly average of 12.2 mm.
The lack of precipitation exacerbated the heat, with the capital experiencing its second warmest April since 1951, with a monthly average maximum temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius. In May, prolonged heatwaves caused maximum temperatures in sections of Delhi to reach 49 degrees Celsius.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) statistics, the capital has registered a maximum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius or more on 27 days this summer season, the most such days since 2012. On 30 days in 2012, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius or higher.
Since June 1, when the monsoon season begins, Delhi has gotten only 24.5 mm of rain, compared to the average 59.5 mm. It everything happened between June 16 and June 20.
According to Mahesh Palawat, vice-president (climate change and meteorology), Skymet Weather, a plentiful monsoon is projected to fill the rain deficit in the first week of July and bring relief from the heat.
From June 29, Delhi will get another round of rain. He predicts that the monsoon would arrive in Delhi on June 30 or July 1.
The advent of the monsoon is indicated by a major increase in humidity levels, easterly winds, and heavy rainfall for at least two consecutive days, according to Palawat.
Last year, the IMD predicted that the monsoon would arrive in Delhi roughly two weeks earlier than usual, on June 27. However, it did not arrive in the capital until July 13, making it the most delayed in 19 years.
The monsoon has entered a “break” phase, with little development from June 20 to July 8.
“Last year, the monsoon did not get off to a good start in Delhi. However, we expect good rainfall for the first two to three days this time,” Palawat said, adding that the first 10 days “seem to be good and on and off rain will continue”.
“There could be a dip in rainfall on July 2-3, but a prolonged dry spell is ruled out,” he added.
Though the IMD has yet to announce a firm date for the monsoon’s arrival in Delhi, the meteorological service has stated that it will cover certain regions of northwest India by June 29 and the entire nation by July 6.
“Due to an east-west trough over north India and moist winds from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea in the lower tropospheric levels, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall is very likely over Himachal Pradesh, east Rajasthan and west Uttar Pradesh from June 28 to June 30 and over Punjab, Haryana and Delhi on June 29-30,” the IMD said.
The monsoon is expected to move into the remaining sections of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar, as well as more areas of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir during the following three to four days, according to the forecast.
(With PTI Inputs)