Delhiites and people residing in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Thursday heaved a sigh of relief as monsoon showers hit the city a day ahead of its scheduled arrival.
Confirming the arrival of monsoon in the city, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Additional Director General Mritunjay Mohapatra said, “It would cover the entire country in next 2-3 days. 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.
This year, the monsoon reached Kerala on June 28, three days ahead of its normal onset date. It battered the western coast in the first half of the month.
However, after a brief lull, it made a steady advance.
The Southwest Monsoon gives 70 per cent of the rain to the country, where agriculture still remains a major contributor to the GDP.
Meanwhile , the Safdarjung observatory, recording of which is considered the official figure for the city, recorded 20.4 mm rainfall till 8.30 am. It received traces of rainfall till 5.30 pm. lodhi Road, Palam, Ayanagar and Ridge received 20.8 mm, 32.8 mm, 30.6 mm and 33 mm rainfall, respectively till 8.30 am, the MeT said. Palam and Ayanagar observatories recorded 5.6 mm and 2.3 mm rainfall, respectively between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. Areas under lodhi Road and Ridge did not receive any rainfall during this time interval, it said.
The maximum temperature was recorded at 35.2 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season’s average. The minimum temperature settled at 24.2 degrees Celsius, four notches below the season’s average, a MeT official said. Humidity levels oscillated between 100 per cent and 60 per cent.
The MeT office has forecast cloudy skies along with a likelihood of moderate rains and thundershowers for tomorrow.
“The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 36 degrees and 24 degrees Celsius, respectively,” the weatherman said.
On Wednesday, the maximum temperature settled at 37.5 degrees Celsius, while the minimum was recorded at 26.2 degrees Celsius.