Weather Today: As per the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) forecast, the southwest monsoon could reach Delhi in the next five to six days. The weather body said that conditions are favourable for the monsoon to advance into the remaining parts of the northern Arabian Sea, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and southeastern Rajasthan over the next two to three days. Light rain and thundershowers are also expected in Delhi on Monday.

Delhi Sizzles Under Intense Heat

On Sunday Delhi recorded its hottest day in the last two years. The minimum temperature was 31.1 degrees Celsius, 3.2 degrees above normal, while the maximum temperature was recorded at 41.8 degrees Celsius. The previous lowest temperature was 33.3 degrees Celsius on June 14, 2024.

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Private weather agency Skymet has forecast that if favourable conditions persist, the monsoon could reach Delhi by July 4. According to Mahesh Palawat, vice president of Skymet, dry winds from Pakistan and moist winds from the Arabian Sea are merging.

This is contributing to cloud formation, but lack of sufficient moisture is preventing widespread rainfall. Clouds typically develop during the day when temperatures peak, weakening the likelihood of rain.

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Floods Kill 3 In Arunachal Pradesh, Wash Away Bridge In Sikkim

Heavy rains and flooding have severely disrupted normal life in the northeastern states. Three people were killed in flash floods in the Keyi Penyor area of Arunachal Pradesh. Floods and landslides have damaged homes and infrastructure in several areas. Ten districts in the state have been affected by the rains, and relief and rescue operations are underway. The Meteorological Department has forecast up to 200 mm of rain until Monday.

Meanwhile, heavy rains in Sikkim's Dzongu region washed away a Bailey bridge connecting Phidang and Sanklang, cutting the area off from the rest of the state. However, no injuries were reported.

Why Is The Pace Of Monsoon Slow This Year?

For the monsoon to advance, a low-pressure area needs to form in the Bay of Bengal, which did not form in the initial stages this time. The Somalia jet stream winds coming from the Indian Ocean are also weak. The system became active in the Bay of Bengal around June 28-29. Consequently, the chances of the monsoon arriving in Delhi before the first week of July are slim.