Mercury dips as monsoon hits Delhi, other parts of north India

The Southwest Monsoon advanced into the national capital and several other parts of north India today, causing widespread rains and bringing much-needed relief from the hot and humid weather conditions.
Delhihites heaved a sigh of relief as the monsoon finally arrived in the city four days behind schedule, bringing down the maximum temperature by nearly four degrees Celsius. The city received 5.5mm rainfall between 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM today, according to the MeT office.
"The monsoon has arrived in Delhi... The national capital and several other parts of north India have received widespread rains since yesterday," Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) director B P Yadav said.

The day temperature was recorded at 32.7 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal for this part of the year. The minimum settled at 26.1 degrees. Yesterday's the maximum stood at 36.6 degrees.
The fall in the temperature was due to the 4-mm rainfall the city received in the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 AM, the MeT official said. The humidity levels hovered between 71 and 85 per cent.
Monsoon rains also occurred in parts of Rajasthan. But unlike previous years when it entered Rajasthan through northeastern districts of Kota and Udaipur, this time the monsoon advanced into the state through northern Bikaner after a delay of over two weeks.

"It is a rare direction of entry," Rajasthan MeT director B N Vishnoi said in Jaipur, adding that widespread rains occurred in parts of Churu, Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Nagaur.

Dantaramgarh in Sikar district recorded the state's maximum rainfall at 5cm. Bundi, Neemkathana, Machlisar, Jhunjhunu, Deedwana received 3-cm rainfall each.
Following rains, mercury dipped by one to five degrees Celsius at several places bringing respite from the heatwave conditions. Except Kota where the maximum settled at 41.2 degrees Celsius, temperatures in other areas of Rajasthan hovered between 33.5 and 37.5 degrees.
State capital Jaipur, which received 8-mm pre-monsoon showers since this morning, recored a maximum temperature of 35.4 degrees Celsius.