Heatwaves rocked the national capital for the third consecutive day as it recorded a temperature of 43.1 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the highest in July since 2012, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) saying "no chance" that monsoon will reach the city till July 7.
The Safdarjung Observatory reported a maximum of 42.1 degrees Celsius, the highest for the month of July in nine years. The Safdarjung Observatory provides representative data for the city. The minimum temperature stabilized at 31.7 degrees Celsius.
On July 2, 2012, Delhi had recorded a maximum of 43.5 degrees Celsius. While last year, July had listed 41.6 degrees Celsius and it was 42.2 degrees Celsius in 2019, 40.1 degrees Celsius in 2018, 38.5 degrees Celsius in 2017 and 39.8 degrees Celsius in 2016 and 2015, respectively.
The monitoring station at Mungeshpur documented a maximum temperature of 45.2 degrees Celsius, which was the highest in the city on Thursday and eight points above normal degrees.
Lodhi Road was hit by a severe 43, the other areas like Ridge (43.9), Narela (43.4), Najafgarh (44) and Pitampura (44.3), recorded a maximum temperature at least seven degrees Celsius above the normal number.
A heatwave for the plain regions is declared when the maximum temperature goes over 40 degrees Celsius at least 4.5 degrees above normal.
According to the IMD, the region is suffering from a severe heatwave when the departure from normal temperature reaches above 6.5 degrees Celsius.
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Delhi on Tuesday recorded the first heatwave of this summer season after the mercury levels showed a rise in temperature up by 43 degrees Celsius.
Heatwave swept Delhi on Wednesday when the mercury levels rose to 43.6 degrees Celsius, which according to the IMD is the highest recorded this year so far. They predict another heatwave will come on Friday.
The heatwave and its area range will, however, is expected to decrease consequently due to a foreseen south-westerly winds from the Arabian Sea.
But this won't bring much relief during the next seven days due to the humidity rise, IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said, adding that there is no chance that Delhi and its neighbouring areas will receive rainfall till July 7. He further said even after that the region will get below normal rains till the middle of this month.
Last, when Delhi received a late monsoon was in 2012.
The weather department has said that this delay in the wind system will likely affect the agricultural processes such as sowing and transplantation of crops, irrigation scheduling and power requirements in the region, which includes Punjab and Haryana that contributes most to India's food production.
The IMD started: “The monsoon has covered most of the country except parts of Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. Since June 19, no progress has been observed. Mid-latitude westerly winds, unfavourable Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) and absence of a low-pressure system over North Bay of Bengal are some of the reasons."
Northeast India, as per the IMD has attained an excess of 14% rainfall -- that is 85.7 mm rainfall against the normal of 75.3 mm since June 1, when the monsoon season starts. Whereas Delhi has got just 29.6 mm of rains against the normal of 64.1 mm during the period, which is 54 per cent deficient.
Earlier, the meteorological office had indicated that by June 15, the wind system may arrive in Delhi, which counts for 12 days early.
Generally, Delhi receives monsoon by June 27 and covers the entire country by July 8.
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The wind system in 2020 had reached Delhi on June 25 and covered the entire country by June 29.