Warm Friday for Delhi, monsoon to advance in 5 days

Pre-monsoon showers hit the capital Friday giving welcome change to Delhiites from a long spell of summer heat.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Friday forecast the arrival of monsoon in the ca[ital within next five days, way ahead of the expected June 29 date.

"Monsoon has been progressing well over the country and is likely to reach the northern India ahead of the schedule. Monsoon is most likely to reach Delhi within next five days from today (Friday)," IMD director B.P. Yadav told IANS.

Friday's shower broke a hot spell that the city suffered for about 15 days. The Met Office has forecast more rain Saturday.

The sudden, sharp shower affected traffic in central parts of Delhi like ITO and Vikas Marg.

Friday generally was yet another warm, stuffy day for the capital, with maximum temperature rising up to 38.8 degrees Celsius, a notch below the average for this time of the season.

The minimum temperature Friday settled at 26.4 degrees which was normal for this time of the season.

The humidity wavered between a high and low of 91 and 47 percent respectively.

"The sky will be cloudy on Saturday and rain is expected too," said an official of the India Meteorological Department.

"Saturday's maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 36 and 27 degrees respectively," the official added.

Despite good rains in southern, central and western states, the IMD said the seasonal rainfall for the country as a whole is likely to be only normal.

This year, setting in of southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea was advanced by three days. The monsoon set in over Kerala on June 1, which is the normal date of its onset.

The country so far has received excess rainfall.