The national capital on Monday experienced below-normal maximum temperatures on the first day of June, marking the coolest start to the month in three years, with the Safdarjung observatory, the official marker for the city, logging 36.3 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature reached 36.3 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 24.9 degrees Celsius.

The last time the city recorded a lower maximum temperature on June 1 was in 2023, when it stood at 32.7 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature was 20.6 degrees Celsius.

The India Meteorological Department's (IMD) data showed that the maximum was 3.7 degrees below the seasonal norm at Safdarjung. Palam recorded 35.5 degrees, which was 5.5 degrees below normal. Other stations followed a similar trend: Lodi Road 35.2 degrees, Ridge 35.6 degrees, and Ayanagar 35.4 degrees.

The southwest monsoon is expected to arrive in Kerala in the next two to three days, the India Meteorological Department said in its forecast on Friday.

Typically, the season begins around June 1.

"Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep Islands, some parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu during the next two to three days," the weather department said.

The advance can also take place in some more parts of southwest, west-central, east-central and northeast Bay of Bengal, and remaining parts of southeast Bay of Bengal during the period, it predicted.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a yellow alert for nine districts in Kerala, warning of heavy rainfall in parts of the state over the coming days.

According to the weather office forecast, a yellow alert has been issued for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts.

The ongoing weather activity is expected to affect multiple regions, with localised heavy showers, thundersqualls, and heatwave conditions in certain areas.

Earlier, the weather office said the Northern Limit of Monsoon currently stretches from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal. Conditions are favourable for its further advance into Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, and additional regions of the Bay of Bengal over the next few days.

(ANI)

Andhra Pradesh is likely to witness mixed weather conditions on Monday, with rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms expected in several districts even as intense heat persists in parts of the state, according to the State Disaster Management Authority.

The APSDMA said varied weather conditions prevailed across the state on Sunday, with temperatures crossing 44 degrees Celsius in some areas, while rain-bearing systems continued to influence weather patterns over Andhra Pradesh.

"Rains accompanied by lightning and the impact of heat in some places are likely to continue across the state on Monday as well," said Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) Managing Director Prakhar Jain in an official press release.

A western disturbance that brought rain and cloudy weather to parts of north India is expected to move away by Monday night. 

The weather conditions are likely to improve, with skies gradually clearing and rainfall activity reducing across several states. The western disturbance had caused scattered showers, thunderstorms and a drop in temperatures in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.

"Finally, let's say goodbye to our great friend, the Western Disturbance, which brought us much-needed relief. It is set to leave the Indian subcontinent by late tomorrow night," wrote a climate scientist, Dr Pradeep on the social media platform X.

With millions across India awaiting the annual arrival of the southwest monsoon over Kerala, the traditional gateway for the country's rainy season, weather agencies on Monday indicated that the monsoon is now at the doorstep of the Kerala coast, bringing both relief from the scorching summer and warnings of heavy rainfall in the days ahead.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a significant increase in rainfall activity across the state as conditions become favourable for the onset of monsoon.

The development is being closely watched nationwide, as the monsoon's arrival over Kerala serves as the benchmark for its subsequent advance across the rest of the country.

The residents of Delhi-NCR are likely to experience continued relief from the summer heat as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rain accompanied by gusty winds across the region until June 4. The weather conditions are expected to keep daytime temperatures below 40 degrees Celsius through at least June 6.

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Monday and Tuesday, warning of light to moderate rainfall and strong winds. No colour-coded weather warning has been issued for Wednesday and Thursday.

India is witnessing widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds as the monsoon steadily progresses across the country, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The ongoing weather activity is expected to affect multiple regions, with localised heavy showers, thundersqualls, and heatwave conditions in certain areas.

Delhi is likely to experience scattered rainfall and thunderstorms in the coming days, with gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph, providing some relief from the hot and humid conditions, IMD said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Scientist Pradeep Sharma on Sunday said Gujarat is likely to witness isolated to scattered rainfall over the next six days, with thunderstorms also expected across the state during the period.

Speaking to ANI, IMD Scientist Pradeep Sharma said a Western Disturbance was currently influencing weather conditions, resulting in scattered rainfall in parts of the state.

"Presently, among the current weather systems, there is a Western Disturbance, due to which scattered rainfall was recorded yesterday. Light to moderate rain was observed in the Gujarat region, while light rain was recorded in Saurashtra," Sharma said.

The IMD scientist said rainfall activity is expected to continue in Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch over the coming days.

Pleasant weather, cool mountain breezes and recent pre-monsoon showers have triggered a massive influx of tourists to Shimla, with visitors from across the country flocking to the Himachal Pradesh capital to escape the intense summer heat in the plains.

The recent pre-monsoon showers in the region have further dropped the mercury, making the capital city of Himachal Pradesh a prime destination for travellers from all corners of the country.

Tourists from states like Gujarat, where temperatures have been soaring past 40 degrees Celsius, have arrived in large numbers to experience the chilly mountain air and panoramic landscapes.

Overcast skies, along with sporadic rainfall, prevailed in several states on Sunday, keeping the mercury subdued in most parts, as the India Meteorological Department said heatwave conditions have abated in the country.

The national capital witnessed a drastic fall in temperatures, with weather experts attributing the cooler conditions to rain and thunderstorm activity associated with an ongoing western disturbance over Rajasthan and central Pakistan.

The IMD forecast moderate to severe thunderstorm activity with squally wind speed of up to 90 kmph over northwest, central and adjoining east India. It also said the northwest monsoon may advance into parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the next three-four days.

Meanwhile, heavy downpour and adverse weather conditions triggered disruptions across Uttarakhand, leading to the temporary suspension of the Kedarnath Yatra and leaving hundreds of pilgrims stranded. The restriction was lifted later in the day as rains ceased and weather conditions improved.