NEW DELHI: With the monsoon edging closer, the capital recorded a drop in maximum temperature by around three to four degrees Celsius on Friday as compared to Thursday. The onset of the monsoon is expected to be declared in Delhi on Saturday and light showers are expected through the city, the meteorological department forecasts.
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Peak intensity of monsoon rain is, however, expected between Sunday and Tuesday.
“Conditions are favourable for further advancement of southwest monsoon over Delhi, remaining parts of west Uttar Pradesh; some more parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan during the next 24 hours,” said IMD’s daily monsoon bulletin on Friday.
Safdarjung, Delhi’s base station, recorded a maximum temperature of 38.2 degrees Celsius on Friday. However, Delhi’s hottest location was Najafgarh with a maximum temperature of around 39.6 degrees Celsius.
“Easterly and south-easterly winds are now blowing towards Delhi and the monsoon is expected to touch Delhi soon. Spells of light to moderate rain are then expected for the next five to six days,” said a Met official.
The maximum temperature is expected to drop to around 37 degrees by Saturday, 35 degrees Celsius by Sunday and 32 degrees Celsius by Monday, owing to rains and cooler winds. The weather department has forecast ‘moderate’ rainfall on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
The monsoon has already been delayed by around two weeks this year as its normal onset date in Delhi was June 27. If its onset is officially declared on Saturday, it will be Delhi’s slowest monsoon onset in the last 18 years. In 2002, it touched the capital on July 19. In comparison, the monsoon reached Delhi on June 25 last year.
“Rainfall activity will pick up from Saturday onwards and the seven-day forecast shows rainfall activity till July 15,” an official said.
