Lagging, monsoon to advance over parts of NW India ‘in 3-4 days’

HT Correspondent

NEW DELHI: After slowing down in the past few days due to westerly headwinds, the southwest monsoon is likely to advance over most parts of central and northwest India in the next 3-4 days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday. It will reach Delhi between June 29 and 30, private forecaster Skymet Weather Services predicted.

“There were weak monsoon conditions for the past three or four days, but now it is likely to advance and strengthen. We have already forecast that it will reach parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the next 3-4 days. Conditions are now favourable for monsoon rains over northwest India,” said M Mohapatra, director general at the weather office. “We will specify on Monday when it’s likely to reach Delhi.”

The monsoon clouds stalled since Wednesday due to westerly winds, which reversed direction on Saturday afternoon.

Conditions are now favourable for its further advance into Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the Met department said.

Monsoon usually arrives in Delhi on June 27, but is expected to be delayed slightly this year.

“Easterly and southeasterly winds have set in since Saturday afternoon. Humidity has increased. We can expect thundershowers over Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi NCR and Uttarakhand from June 28,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice president of climate change and meteorology at Skymet. “If rains continue on June 29 in these parts, then monsoon arrival can be declared on June 29. Otherwise it will reach on June 30,” he predicted.

“By June 30, we can expect the monsoon to set in over large parts of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi NCR,” Palawat added.

Showers are likely over northwest India from June 28, the weather bureau said. Widespread rain with isolated thunderstorms and lightning is likely over Uttarakhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh on June 27-29.