New Delhi:
Southwest Monsoon advanced to several states, ahead of the schedule forecast by the India Metrological Department (IMD), in the north and northwest of the country, including Delhi bringing rains and respite to people from sweltering heat.
Monsoon arrived a day ahead of its schedule in the national capital. The showers in parts of the city brought the mercury down even as humidity levels shot up—oscillating between 100 per cent and 60 per cent.
“The maximum temperature was recorded at 35.2 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season’s average while the minimum temperature settled at 24.2 degrees Celsius, four notches below the season’s average,” a Met official said.
The Safdarjung observatory recorded 20.4 mm rainfall till 8.30 am. It received traces of rainfall till 5.30 pm and later in the evening as well.
Monsoon reached Kerala three days ahead of its normal onset date which battered the western coast in the first half of the month.
It would cover the entire country in next 2-3 days, Additional Director General Mritunjay Mohapatra said, implying that the Southwest Monsoon could cover the rest of the nation a fortnight before its scheduled date.
The normal onset date for monsoon in Delhi is June 29 while it usually reaches Sriganganagar in west Rajasthan, its last outpost in the country, on July 15.
“Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of Gujarat region, most parts of east Rajasthan, some parts of West Rajasthan, entire Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, remaining parts of west Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab,” the IMD said.
“Conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into remaining parts of north Arabian Sea, Gujarat, Rajasthan and thus the entire country during the next 2-3 days,” the IMD added.
IMD said heavy rainfall is very likely to continue for next 2-3 days over parts of the northwestern states.
In Jammu and Kashmir, monsoon arrived a week ahead of its schedule this year, as intermittent light rains lashed several parts of the state bringing the mercury down by several notches.
The denizens of Jammu woke up to a pleasant weather condition after scattered light rains lashed the city as Monsoon hit the state last evening.
“The day temperature in the Jammu city fell by five notches to settle at 28.0 degrees Celsius, 9.7 notches below, normal for this part of the season,” an official of the Met department said.
“In Himachal Pradesh, heavy rainfall occurred at Sirmaur, Solan, Una and Bilaspur districts. The lowest temperature in the state was recorded in Keylong at 8 degrees Celsius and the highest temperature was recorded in Paonta Sahib at 33 degrees Celsius,” according to an official of the MeT department.
The southwest monsoon further advanced into Punjab and Haryana also, bringing widespread rains in most places of Haryana and Punjab, including Chandigarh.
“More rainfall is likely over many parts of Punjab and Haryana during the next two-three days. Heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places during next two days,” the officials said.
(With inputs from PTI)
