Pre-Monsoon Showers To Continue For Delhi, More Intense On Weekend, Monsoon Inches Closer
Roads Deluges in Delhi , Image: PTI
Delhi and its suburbs experienced a heavy downpour yesterday after nearly two weeks of dry weather. Most parts of the region were struck by thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, and intense showers. The severe weather led to waterlogging in multiple areas and disrupted traffic. Additionally, 12 flights were diverted. The bad weather triggered cascading delays and further traffic congestion.
There was significant spatial variation in rainfall. The Pusa observatory recorded the highest rainfall at 57 mm, while the base station at Safdarjung measured 29 mm. Delhi has experienced two intense spells so far this month — the first at the beginning of June, and the second, heavier one, last evening. So far, Safdarjung has recorded 46 mm of rainfall against a monthly normal of 80.6 mm. More showers are expected across the NCR throughout the week.
A cyclonic circulation is currently marked over northeast Rajasthan and the adjoining region. The east-west trough is located slightly south of Delhi today, which means the intensity of weather may remain mild tonight. However, the trough is shifting northward and is expected to pass through Delhi tomorrow and remain active over the capital on Friday. Similar conditions are likely to continue into the weekend, with minor oscillations in the embedded circulation.
Pre-monsoon showers are likely to intensify between June 20 and 23, with peak intensity expected on June 20 and 22. A low-pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal, along with another over southeast Rajasthan, are working in tandem to strengthen the monsoon stream. On the western end, the monsoon has advanced significantly, covering all of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and south and east Rajasthan. The monsoon current has reached Jaipur — just a step away from Delhi. Conditions are becoming increasingly favorable for an early onset of the monsoon in the national capital, potentially coinciding with the upcoming wet spell between June 20 and 23.
