South-west monsoon has arrived in Delhi with light showers drenching the national capital well ahead of its scheduled onset, the Meteorological Department said on Thursday. According to the MeT office, the south-west monsoon has reached Delhi after making rapid progress over the last few days well ahead of its normal onset. At least 21 mm rainfall was recorded till 5 pm on Thursday in the national capital at the Safdarjung observatory, considered the official for the city.
Rainfall measuring 12.8 mm, 11.8 mm, 11.4 mm and 19.6 mm were recorded in Palam, Ridge, Ayanagar and lodhi Road observatories respectively. The Met Department on June 22 had forecast that monsoon was likely to hit Delhi by June 26, earlier, than its normal arrival date of June 29.
The maximum temperature settled seven notches below the season’s average at 30.8 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature was recorded six notches below normal at 22.4 degrees Celsius, a MeT official said. Humidity on the higher side hovered at 98 per cent and on the lower side it settled around 73 per cent.
The MeT office has predicted overcast conditions along with the possibility of one or two spells of light rain and thundershower in some parts of the city. “The sky will partly cloudy on Friday. One or two spells of light rain and thundershower could occur in some parts of the city. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover at 35 and 23 degrees respectively,” said the MeT forecast.