Delhi-NCR Humidity Soars As Monsoon Stalls: Experts Explain Why Rain Has Stopped And When It Will Return

Delhi-NCR welcomed the southwest monsoon with much vigour last week, but the joy was short-lived as throughout the week, the capital saw scarce rainfall, causing humid weather and inconvenience to the residents.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon has suddenly stalled in many parts of northwest India. Clear skies, replacing heavy rain clouds, are now increasing the heat and humidity.

Break Monsoon brings dry spell

The weather experts have termed this dry spell a "break monsoon". According to the experts, the break monsoon is being caused by a major shift in the monsoon trough, a low-pressure area that brings heavy clouds, moisture, and rain.

The monsoon belt has shifted toward the northern Terai region of Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, only the northern parts are receiving rainfall, while the plains are experiencing downpour scarcity. A low-pressure system that formed last week also played a role in shifting the trough northward.

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A report by Jagran.com cited Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather saying that a broken monsoon has developed across Delhi-NCR and northwest India. This has led to a sharp drop in humidity and a lack of cloud formation. Meanwhile, heavy rain continues in the eastern and northeastern parts of the country.

He added that a cyclonic circulation over Bihar, Bangladesh, and Assam draws moisture from the Bay of Bengal. A break monsoon occurs when the axis of the monsoon trough shifts toward the foothills of the Himalayas. This causes dry westerly winds to blow in the south, reducing humidity, increasing temperatures, and causing the cessation of rainfall.

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When will Delhi get relief?

On next spell of expected rainfall over the capital, Mahesh Palawat said that after July 19, this axis of the monsoon trough will begin to shift southward, which could lead to rain activity. There is a week's break ahead, after which Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh will again see heavy rains, and temperatures will drop once again