Gurugram: Temperature still above 40 degree Celsius, Met says monsoon from today

GURUGRAM: The city witnessed another hot and humid day on Wednesday even though the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecasted light to moderate pre-monsoon showers for the day.
The city, however, may heave a sigh of relief from Thursday onwards, with the southwest monsoon set to hit Haryana in time on Thursday, according to IMD. The department has issued an orange alert for the next two days in Gurugram, with a forecast of heavy rain with wind speeds of around 30-40 km/hour.
On Wednesday, the maximum temperature was 41.4 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal. The minimum temperature was 28.5 degrees Celsius, around a degree higher than normal.
The wet spell from Thursday is likely to bring a drop in mercury till July 5, when the maximum temperature is expected to be around 35 degrees Celsius and minimum will be around 27 degree Celsius, IMD said.
IMD’s seven day forecast for Gurugram shows that rainfall is expected every day until July 5, with ‘heavy’ spells on both June 30 and July 1, while drizzles will occur on the remaining days.
“In the next 24-48 hours, Haryana is likely to be hit by monsoon. We are already getting pre-monsoon showers in Yamunanagar and Panchkula. Gurugram can expect to get rain by Thursday. An orange alert has been issued for the city as heavy rain is likely to occur with gusty winds,” said Manmohan Singh, director of IMD (Chandigarh).
In terms of air quality, Gurugram recorded an overall air quality index (AQI) of 148 (moderate) at 4pm on Wednesday. The AQI is likely to drop in the next two to three days due to the rains and strong winds.
Delhi, meanwhile, too continued to sweat and suffer on Wednesday due to high maximum temperature and humidity, which kept the outdoors unpleasant. The maximum temperature at Safdarjung was 40.9 degrees Celsius, four notches above the season’s average, against 41.5 degrees a day earlier.
The real feel temperature or the heat index due to high humidity at 2.30pm, however, was 51 degrees Celsius. At 2.30pm, the temperature was 40.4 degrees Celsius and relative humidity 43%. On Wednesday, the humidity oscillated between 41% and 77%.
The minimum temperature at Safdarjung was 28.8 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season’s average, against 33.9 degrees Celsius a day earlier. The air quality remained within the moderate level with an Air Quality Index of 163 against 137 a day earlier.
Meanwhile, police have constituted two quick response teams (QRTs) and deployed around 1,100 traffic cops across the city to tackle any jams on waterlogged roads during rains.
The two QRT teams, under the supervision of DCP (traffic), will not only deal with traffic jams but also help the people trapped in the snarls or waterlogged areas.
The teams, which will consist of around 16 traffic cops, will have cranes available round the clock at different parts of the city. Based on the information related to traffic and waterlogging received from the control room, social media and other sources, the teams will reach the spot and take necessary action.
Police will also keep a close watch on the waterlogged points from the GMDA’s integrated control and command centre. In an advisory issued on Wednesday, Gurugram police have requested the general public to contact traffic police control room for any kind of assistance related to traffic at 0124-2386000, 0124-2386004, 0124-2386005.
Gurugram police commissioner Kala Ramachandran said the public is being advised to follow Gurugram police on Twitter at @TrafficGGM and Facebook page (Gurugram Traffic Police) for real-time status of traffic. Citizens can also inform police about any issues with traffic on social media, she added.