JOIN USThe India Meteorological Department on Sunday announced that Delhi might be having its date with the monsoon by the week-end.
The announcement comes at a time when the national capital reels under a scorching sun that shoots the ambient temperature way above the normal mark.
On Sunday, the mercury touched the maximum mark of 42.2 degrees Celsius, five notches above normal, in Delhi. With 31.6 degrees Celsius, the minimum too was three degrees above normal, turning the metropolis into a heat chamber.
The IMD said pre-monsoon thunderstorm activities are likely to commence from June 26 onwards and the southwest monsoon was likely to arrive in Delhi anytime between June 29 and July 1, without any delay in the monsoon calender.
“Advance of southwest monsoon is likely over parts of northwest India including Delhi during June 29 to July 1,” MeT officers said.
While heatwave conditions were observed in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, maximum temperature of 50 degrees were recorded in popular tourist spot Agra and Banda – both in west UP.
After its time timely arrival on the Malabar coast on May 29 and continuous march for the next two weeks, the monsoon went into a break period for nearly two weeks. A revival in the monsoon flow is expected from June 25 onwards with an ocean weather phenomenon known as Madden-Julian Oscillation turning favourable.
“The prevailing heatwave conditions are likely to abate from northwest India from Monday. Fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls likely over south India, central and adjoining parts of northwest India. Scattered to fairly widespread rainfall likely over rest of the northwest India,” the IMD said.