New Delhi: The wait for monsoon may be over today. It is likely to arrive in the national capital over the next 24 hours. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Thursday, expecting light to moderate rain along with thunderstorms and winds. So far, the southwest monsoon has advanced further over parts of western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab. IMD officials say that conditions are favourable for its further advancement to the rest of western UP and Delhi. “The southwest monsoon has further advanced over remaining parts of north Arabian Sea; some more parts of Rajasthan, western UP, Haryana, and Punjab… Conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest monsoon over some more parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana; Delhi and remaining parts of West Uttar Pradesh during next 24 hours,” said a statement from the IMD.Meanwhile, the city experienced an overcast sky, with slight rainfall reported in Pushp Vihar and Narela on Wednesday night.The city on Wednesday saw a slight drop in the maximum temperature; however, high humidity led to a rise in discomfort levels. The heat index, or ‘feel like’ temperature, was recorded at 48.1 degrees Celsius at 5.30 pm when the maximum temperature was 33.8 degrees Celsius and humidity was 74%. The maximum temperature at the base station Safdarjung was recorded at 34.9 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal against 36.1 degrees Celsius a day earlier. The minimum temperature was recorded at 29.6 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal against 28.2 degrees Celsius a day earlier. The humidity oscillated between 73 to 88%. The ‘feel like’ temperature on Wednesday was 44.3 degrees Celsius.The IMD expects the arrival of the monsoon with moderate rain on Thursday. The maximum temperature on Thursday is expected to hover around 33 to 35 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the air quality index was 132 or ‘moderate’, compared to 95 or ‘satisfactory’ a day earlier.The IMD has forecast Delhi to receive normal rainfall this monsoon. The normal range is 92 to 108% of the long-period average.
