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Monsoon is here; breaks 108-year-old record
Tourists brave heavy downpour as monsoon arrives in Delhi on Sunday.
NEW DELHI: It’s official. The monsoon has hit the Capital and that too a fortnight ahead of its scheduled normal date of June 29, breaking a 108-year-old record.
Delhiites woke up to cloudy weather on Sunday morning and soon the skies opened up lashing the city with heavy rain. Sardarjung recorded 30.3 mm of rainfall between 8-30 a.m. and 5-30 p.m., while Palam received 23.8 mm of rain. The maximum temperature stood at 28.8 degrees Celsius, while the minimum was 26 degrees.
According to the IMD, because of the early arrival of the monsoon, Monday will witness a generally cloudy sky with a few spells of rains or thunderstorm and one or two places will receive heavy rainfall.
The IMD website said the advance of the monsoon has been smooth and rapid compared to last year. “Conditions are favourable for further advance of monsoon into remaining parts of the country during next two-three days,” it added.
Delhi has been experiencing unusual weather in the past more than one month with intermittent showers even in May when the temperature normally hovers above the 40 degrees Celsius mark. The maximum temperature recorded in the Capita was 43 degrees on May 4.
On an average, Delhi receives 17.9 mm rainfall during the month of May. This year, the city experienced above normal rainfall activity caused by a series of upper air cyclonic circulations over central Pakistan and adjoining west Rajasthan. The total rainfall recorded in Delhi during May was 165 mm which is a record for the month, the previous one being 129.3 mm in 2002.
The pleasant weather on Sunday drew Delhiites out of their homes and India Gate was awash with people in the evening.
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