- Conditions favour further southwest monsoon advance into northern states over 5-6 days
- Delhi recorded warmest morning in two years with 31.1°C minimum temperature
- Heatwave warning issued for Uttar Pradesh on July 28-29 with max temps above normal
Conditions are favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon into several northern states over the next five to six days, the IMD said on Sunday, even as the national capital recorded its warmest morning in two years amid the delayed seasonal rainfall.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a release that conditions are favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon into some more parts of the North Arabian Sea and some areas of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, among other states, during the next two to three days.
It is likely to continue its movement over some more parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, some areas of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and southeast Rajasthan during the subsequent two to three days.
However, it also warned of heatwave conditions -- possibly severe -- in Uttar Pradesh on July 28 and 29.
According to weather forecasting agency Skymet, Delhi is likely to see the arrival of monsoon on July 4 if conditions remain favourable.
Meanwhile, recording its warmest morning in two years, Delhi's minimum temperature settled at 31.1 degrees Celsius, 3.2 notches above the seasonal average, while the maximum climbed to 41.8 degrees Celsius.
The last time the city's minimum temperature was higher was on June 14, 2024, when it was recorded at 33.3 degrees Celsius.
According to the weather office, a heatwave has been realised over Delhi, and the “feels-like” temperature at 5.30 pm, as calculated by the IMD, was around 50.7 degrees Celsius. For Monday, however, it forecast thunderstorms with rain.
Skymet said the delay in the onset of the monsoon and the interaction of dry and moist winds have kept both temperatures and humidity unusually high.
"Normally, the monsoon reaches Delhi around June 27-28, after which temperatures begin to ease and humidity increases. This year, however, the monsoon is likely to be delayed by about a week. Dry westerly winds from Pakistan are keeping temperatures high, while southwesterly winds from the Arabian Sea are also reaching Delhi and increasing humidity," Mahesh Palawat, Vice President (Meteorology and Climate Change), Skymet, said.
"When these dry and moist air masses interact, clouds do form, but there is not enough moisture for widespread rainfall. By the time cloud formation takes place, usually around 4 or 5 pm, the day's maximum temperature has already been recorded. That is why both the maximum temperature and the 'feels-like' temperature have remained unusually high," he said.
The meteorological centre in Shimla predicted a wet spell in Himachal Pradesh till July 4, saying a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from July 2 onwards.
It issued an alert for thunderstorms and gusts of 30-40 kmph in isolated place in the state between June 30 and July 4.
Light rains were witnessed in parts of the state in the 24 hours since Saturday evening, and Shimla, Kangra and Mandi districts witnessed thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, mercury soared to 43.4 degrees Celsius in Paryagraj, while Lucknow recorded a maximum temperature of 39.7 degrees Celsius, 3.6 notches above normal, the meteorological department said.
The isolated parts of the state are very likely to witness a heat wave in the next 24 hours, the department said, adding that thunderstorms/lightning accompanied by gusty winds are very likely at isolated places over eastern Uttar Pradesh. In Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 33.8 degrees Celsius, 3.8 degrees above normal, and a minimum of 19.7 degrees Celsius, 2.6 degrees above normal. For Jammu, the maximum stood at 37 degrees, and the minimum was 3.8 notches below normal at 22.5 degrees Celsius.
The weather office said pre-monsoon showers in the plains of Jammu and adjoining areas were likely on June 29 and forecasted intense heavy showers, thunder and gusty winds at a few places.
Noting that the temperatures have remained appreciable above normal in several parts of Uttarakhand, the Dehradun Meteorological Centre issued a yellow (watch) morning for thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, an intense to very intense spell of rain and gusty winds at isolated places in hilly districts of Uttarakhand.
Dehradun registered a maximum temperature of 37.1 degrres Celsius, which was five degrees above normal, and a minimum of 26.8 degrees, which was three notches above normal.
For Punjab and Haryana, the IMD predicted scattered rainfall on June 29 and July 1 and 2 even as temperatures remained above-normal in several parts. The two states are also likely to witness thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds (with speed reaching 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph) between July 1 and 4.
In Rajasthan, humid weather conditions persisted across large parts, even as scattered rainfall was reported in several districts, including Pilani in Jhunjhunu district, which saw 7 mm of rain since morning.
The meteorological office has predicted moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms in parts of the Kota and Udaipur divisions over the next few days, with rainfall activity expected to increase across southeastern and eastern Rajasthan from July 2.
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