Not so quick... monsoon’s arrival in Delhi slows down

NEW DELHI: The advancement of the southwest monsoon slowed down slightly on Monday. India Meteorological Department (IMD) said its progress into western Uttar Pradesh is likely to determine when the onset of monsoon is declared. The department had earlier forecast the arrival of monsoon in Delhi by June 15, but the rainfall activity on Tuesday is likely to determine the onset date.
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Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist at IMD and head, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, said, “The onset of monsoon depends on the rainfall activity in west UP. It has slowed down due to the less rainfall activity in some parts of west UP. The onset of monsoon may be declared on Tuesday, depending on the rain activity in west UP and Delhi.”
The normal meteorological date of onset is June 27, but the earlier forecast of Met department said monsoon may hit Delhi two weeks in advance. According to the forecast of Met department, several parts of Delhi may receive light to moderate rain or thundershowers on Tuesday evening or night. The rain is likely to be accompanied by gusty winds at the speed of 40-50 kmph. Met department said there is a possibility of very light rain or thundershowers from Wednesday to Friday. However, the weather is likely to remain dry over the weekend.
However, the pre-monsoon showers have largely eluded Delhi in the last three days. Only some stations recorded rainfall. Najafgarh reported the highest rainfall at 30 mm till 8.30 am on Monday while Ayanagar and Palam recorded 4mm and 1 mm, respectively, during the same period.
On Monday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 38.6 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal. The minimum temperature settled at 25.5 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal. The relative humidity oscillated between 81% and 39%.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 124 in the ‘moderate’ category on Monday — slightly down from Sunday’s AQI of 83 in the ‘satisfactory’ category.
System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the forecasting body under the union ministry of earth sciences, said, “The wind speed is forecast to stay high for the next three days and isolated rainfall is likely in Delhi on Tuesday. AQI is likely to stay in the ‘moderate’ to ‘satisfactory’ category for the next three days.”