Monsoon set to arrive in Delhi around June 29

NEW DELHI: The south-west monsoon is likely to arrive in Delhi around June 29, after a week’s pause in its advance, bringing relief to residents reeling under a relentless heat wave and good tiding for farmers who have slowed sowing their crops out of concern that rainfall may be delayed.

Over the next two to three days, the south-west monsoon will advance over the remaining parts of Maharashtra, Assam, parts of Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal; and some parts of south Saurashtra, Jharkhand, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Delhi and most parts of northwest India can expect a respite from intense heat starting Monday and temperatures are expected to drop further on Wednesday, when pre-monsoon thundershowers hit the national capital.

“Heat wave conditions will persist for a few days, premonsoon thunderstorms will hit from June 27 onwards because of the incursion of moisture-carrying easterly winds,” BP Yadav, senior official at the regional forecasting centre in Delhi, said.

“Depending on parameters like wind speed and rainfall received monsoon onset will be declared. It is likely to arrive around its usual time, that is June 29,” Yadav said.

The arrival of the June-to-September monsoon in northwest India spells good news for farmers in the region.