Monsoon is coming: Delhiites look towards sky as humidity kills on ground

Pre-monsoon showers have been lashing the city since Thursday evening. The IMD said more showers are expected on Friday evening.

Delhiites wilting in the humidity and heat, take heart. The much awaited monsoon will reach the capital this weekend, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said on Friday.

new Delhi, India 30 June 2016: Pre Monsoon clouds hover over the capital skyline in New Delhi, india on Thursday 30 june 2016. Photo by Mohd Zakir Hindustan Times

Pre-monsoon showers that have been lashing the city since Thursday evening have provided some relief, but also added to the sultry weather. The IMD said more showers are expected on Friday evening.

Rains were reported from different parts of the city on Thursday night, with Delhi receiving 13mm of rain by Friday morning. The minimum temperature was recorded as 27.2 degrees Celsius, a degree below normal, on Friday.

This season, Delhi suffered through an intense heat wave. In June, the Safdarjung observatory, considered the official weather station for Delhi, recorded the highest maximum temperature at 44 degrees Celsius.

Usually, the monsoons hit the city on June 29 each year. However, there has been a slight delay this year.

“Conditions are becoming favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon in some more parts of East Rajasthan, remaining parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and most parts of Punjab and Haryana, entire Chandigarh and Delhi and some parts of West Rajasthan during next 1¬2 days,” a statement issued by the IMD said.

The monsoon was slow to even reach Kerala, the first place in India that receives rains. A week behind schedule, it trudged through the rest of the country.

Long-range forecasts however predict an above normal monsoon this year, a much needed relief for north western India that remained parched for two years. Given the slow progress, the rain deficit in June is expected to recover in July and August.