Delhi-NCR could finally see relief from the lingering spell of humid weather as the southwest monsoon moves closer to the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds across the national capital and much of North India over the coming days.
The weather office expects rainfall activity to increase steadily over the next week. Besides Delhi, several neighbouring states are likely to witness widespread showers as the monsoon advances further into northern parts of the country.
Delhi weather: Rain likely over the next few days
According to the IMD, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh and Rajasthan are expected to receive light rainfall between June 25 and July 1.
Western Uttar Pradesh, including Noida and Ghaziabad, is likely to receive rain on June 26 and again between June 29 and July 1. In eastern Uttar Pradesh, light to moderate rainfall has been forecast from June 26 to June 29.
The weather department has also issued rain alerts for Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir during the final week of June.
Heavy rainfall forecast for several northern states
The IMD said the southwest monsoon is expected to strengthen further across the country over the next seven days.
Fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds, has been forecast across Northwest India between June 25 and July 1.
Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are expected to receive intermittent rainfall, with isolated heavy showers likely on June 25 and 26.
Himachal Pradesh could witness heavy rainfall from June 26 to June 30. Punjab is also expected to see increased rainfall activity, with isolated heavy showers likely on June 27 and 28.
For Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, the IMD has forecast widespread rainfall, with isolated heavy showers expected on June 29 and 30.
Rainfall activity in Uttar Pradesh is likely to intensify from June 27, with isolated heavy rain forecast until July 1.
Humidity continues despite weather alerts
Despite a yellow alert that was later upgraded to an orange alert on Thursday, Delhi received only scattered rainfall.
The city’s “feels-like” temperature touched 44.1 degrees Celsius at 5.30 pm even though the actual temperature stood at 38 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature settled at 38.8 degrees Celsius.
The IMD said the maximum temperature is likely to remain between 39 degrees Celsius and 41 degrees Celsius until the end of the week.
Rainfall remained patchy on Thursday. Ayanagar recorded 9.2 mm of rainfall, while Pitampura received 1 mm. Safdarjung, Delhi’s primary weather station, did not record any rainfall till 5.30 pm.
The IMD retained a yellow alert on Thursday evening and forecast very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms during Thursday night and Friday morning.
The department has predicted light rain, thunderstorms and strong winds over the next six days, except on Sunday. A gradual dip in daytime temperatures is expected from Monday, with the maximum temperature likely to settle between 35 degrees Celsius and 37 degrees Celsius by July 1.