The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a generally cloudy sky with thunderstorms and rain in the national capital on Sunday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle around 39 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Delhi may have to wait until the first week of July for the arrival of the southwest monsoon this year instead of its usual onset date of around June 27, with weather experts attributing the delay to the absence of favourable weather systems that normally help the rain-bearing winds advance towards northwest India.
Delhi's air quality remained in the "moderate" category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 132 at 4 pm, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".
Station-wise data showed that Palam recorded a maximum temperature of 39.9 degrees Celsius on Saturday, 0.9 notches above normal, while Lodhi Road registered 40.1 degrees Celsius, 2.1 notches above normal.
The Ridge weather station recorded 41.1 degrees Celsius, 0.2 notches above normal, and Ayanagar logged 40.4 degrees Celsius, 0.8 notches below normal.
According to the IMD, the minimum temperature at the Safdarjung observatory, the city's base station, settled at 28.7 degrees Celsius, 0.7 notches above normal.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 26.5 degrees Celsius in Palam, 1.5 notches below normal; 27 degrees Celsius on Lodhi Road, one notch below normal; 26 degrees Celsius at the Ridge, 2.5 notches below normal; and 27.7 degrees Celsius in Ayanagar, 0.2 notches below normal.
The delay comes at a time when India is facing a rainfall deficit of 41 per cent between June 4 and June 18, with the southwest monsoon stalled over southern Maharashtra, according to the latest India Meteorological Department (IMD) data.
The country has received 42.6 mm of rainfall against the normal 72.2 mm during the period.
The IMD's region-wise rainfall departure data showed deficits of 67 per cent in central India, 42 per cent in east and northeast India, 22 per cent in the southern peninsula and 6 per cent in northwest India.
The weather department on Thursday said the "absence of favourable large-scale meteorological conditions" was the key reason for the failure of the southwest monsoon to advance further into the remaining parts of Maharashtra in the past few days.
