Monsoon reaches Delhi, NCR

Delhi on Sunday had its date with South-West Monsoon, three days ahead of its normal onset in the city bringing cheers to citizens reeling under severe hot and humid conditions. "The South-West Monsoon has hit the capital three days ahead of its normal arrival," B P Yadav, Director of MeT Department, told. On Sunday, the rains started around 5 am and the rain guages measured 72 mm of showers in Narela weather station, 52 mm in Peetampura, 25 mm in PUSA area, 8 mm in Najafgarh, 2.4 mm in Safdurjung and 2 mm in Delhi University. The measurement of rain in Palam weather station was 1.7 mm while the same was 1.4 mm in Lodhi colony station, one mm in each in Akshardhan and Yamuna Sports Complex stations.
The showers brought down the minimum temperature to 25.9 degree Celsius, two degrees below normal and down from Saturday's 30 degrees. Last year, the monsoon had a late arrival in the capital. The seasonal rains started only on July five last year after a delay of a week. The earliest onset of monsoon over Delhi during the past 30 years was on 15th June, 2008 and while the most delayed onset was on 26th July, 1987. In 2010, Delhi had recorded 772.3 mm of rains compared to normal rains of 645.7 mm. However, in 2009 the city received deficient rains. The official said north-west India, which includes Delhi, is likely to get around 97 per cent of the average rains.