Tuesday's overcast sky over Delhi-NCR offered residents no comfort as the mercury climbed relentlessly, reaching 53.5 degrees Celsius in the capital by evening. The clouds brought humidity but no rain, leaving people sweltering under an oppressive, stifling heat. On a more hopeful note, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that light rain, thunderstorms, and lightning activity could arrive in parts of Delhi within the next 24 hours.
Why Is the Heat So Intense Despite Cloud Cover?
Weather scientists have pointed to a collision between two opposing air masses hanging over the region. Hot, dry westerly winds pushing in from the direction of Pakistan are running head-on into moisture-laden south-westerly winds arriving from the Arabian Sea. When these two systems collide, they do generate cloud formation, but the available moisture content is not sufficient to sustain widespread or heavy rainfall. The result is a deceptive sky that looks stormy yet delivers little actual cooling, while temperatures remain dangerously elevated across Delhi-NCR.
Where Can Rain Be Expected in the Next 24 Hours?
IMD has forecast the possibility of very light rain or drizzle, accompanied by thunder and lightning, across scattered parts of Delhi within the next 24 hours. During this period, wind speeds are expected to reach between 40 and 50 kilometres per hour. Nearby areas are also in the weather forecast. Rewari in Haryana and Khairtal along with Kotputli in Rajasthan have been identified as zones where light to moderate rain, thunder and lightning, and strong gusts of 30 to 50 kilometres per hour are considered highly likely.
Where Did the Monsoon Advance on June 30?
On June 30, the southwest monsoon made a significant leap forward. Most of Madhya Pradesh, the remaining stretches of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar, portions of Uttar Pradesh, the bulk of Uttarakhand, and select areas of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh all came under the monsoon's reach in this latest advance. As a result, the southwest monsoon now covers most of southern, central, and eastern India.
When Will the Monsoon Reach Delhi?
In a post on X, IMD noted that weather conditions remain conducive for the monsoon to push further into the remaining northern states. The department has said that people across various parts of North India can look forward to the monsoon's arrival within the next two to three days, which is expected to bring substantial rainfall to those areas.
Monsoon Arrival Timeline Across India
- Kerala: June 4
- West Bengal: June 12
- Maharashtra: around June 23
- Bihar and Jharkhand: around June 23
- Parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh: by end of June
The weather department has confirmed that the monsoon is now marching steadily northward and is expected to spread across additional regions in the days ahead.
