Summer heat to return; rain unlikely for a week in Delhi, northwest India: IMD

Delhi and regions of northwest India are set to experience a hot week ahead, while monsoon rains are predicted to stay stagnant over central India during this time, as per the India Meteorological Department. IMD predictions indicate that rainfall in the area will begin to increase in a week, providing respite from a prolonged period of heat.

The warmth started to establish itself on Saturday in the national capital as temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius (°C) — the primary weather station Safdarjung noted a high of 39.8°C, which is typical for this season. The weather department has predicted that the maximum is likely to increase further, by 3-4°C, over the next five days.

In Delhi, temperatures are expected to reach 42°C on Sunday and may rise to 44°C by Tuesday, marking the hottest week of the season to date. The peak temperature noted in the Capital to date is 42.3°C on May 16. This is probably one of the final intense heat waves before the monsoon advances in other regions of India.

The monsoon has not advanced for more than a week now — its movement was halted around May 29 due to the influx of dry air. According to IMD’s extended range forecast, it will resume progress during the week of June 12 to 18.

Until now, many regions of the country experienced an unusually cool summer due to the southwest monsoon’s earlier arrival. Typically, the monsoon reaches most of the nation by the end of June and fully envelops the country by July 8. It usually arrives in Delhi on June 27.

“Models suggest that at least June 12, monsoon will be very weak. This is due to weaker monsoon flow and dry air intrusion from northwest. The longer hiatus has become now seen during the monsoon progress. There is a systematic in increase of hiatus days,” said M Rajeevan, former secretary, Union ministry of earth sciences.