: The first monsoon showers lashed the city on Saturday, providing Delhiites the much-needed relief from the sweltering heat.
Charan Singh, scientist at the Indian Meteorological Department, said, “The South-West Monsoon has advanced into remaining parts of western Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, most parts of Haryana, entire Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab, and some parts of eastern Rajasthan.”
Gauging the drops
The Capital recorded 23.6 mm rainfall till 8.30 a.m., while weather stations at Lodhi Road, Palam, Ridge and Ayanagar received 19.6 mm, 3.8 mm, 12 mm and 18.7 mm rainfall, respectively.
With the temperature plummeting to 24.4 degree Celsius and a cool breeze blowing throughout the day, scores of people thronged to parks, open cafés, and of course, India Gate to enjoy the weather.
The maximum temperature on Saturday settled at 30.2 degree Celsius, seven notches below the season’s average. Humidity levels oscillated between 74 and 97 per cent.
The weatherman has predicted light to moderate rainfall in the next 24 hours. “The skies will be partly cloudy on Sunday. There is likelihood of rain accompanied by thunderstorm. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle around 30 and 24 degrees Celsius,” the MeT official said.
Ample rainfall
According to the long-range forecast, rainfall this season will be above the normal range. North-Western India, which includes Delhi, is expected to get good rainfall after two years. June, however, ended with a rain deficit, which is expected to be made up in July and August.
On Friday, the minimum temperature was recorded at 27.2 degree Celsius, while the maximum temperature was pegged at 36 degree Celsius.
